The recommendation made on Wednesday was to proceed with the replacement of Caden’s aortic valve.  The cardiologist is talking with the cardiothorasic surgeon to determine if this is a go or not.  I believe Sherry and I both or more at peace with this recommendation than just about anything we have faced in recent years.   The peace is a God thing.

The current recommendation is based on a thickening of the muscle tissue around the left ventricle.  The gradient across the valve has not increased significantly, but the thickening of the ventricle wall has caused concern for the cardiologist.  The heart is suspected to have been working harder to get blood out to the extremities of Caden’s rapid growing body. My questions was to the cardiologist was, “Are you recommending surgery in days, weeks, or months?”  The answer was months meaning that this is not an emergent or even urgent requirement for surgery.  It is a serious issue that must be addressed before the muscle tissue begins to protrude in on the capacity of the left ventricle.

Pacemaker 

The removal of the pacemaker did not factor into this decision.  We will have the pacemaker removed if this valve replacement proceeds as recommended by the cardiologist.  If the cardiothorasic surgeon is not ready to move on the vavle right now then we still have to make a determination on the pacemaker separately.  It can be removed via a less invasive heart surgery.  Is there really is such a thing?  Anyway, we have not received a second opinion on the scoliosis diagnosis yet.  So we don’t know for certain if there is another way to determine if back surgery can be done without an MRI.  You wil remember that the MRI requires the pacemaker to be removed.

Recent Illness

Caden did recently go through a rough time with pneumonia AGAIN and a nasty ear infection.  He was switched between three antibiotics within a week and a half.  He ended up on Rocephion shots again.  This all resulted in three ER visits in a five day period.  It was bizzarre in that the ER actually called the next day and switched the diagnosis after the first visit.  We fought fevers between 102.5 and 104 off and on for four days.  We actually got sent home from the ER with O2 sats in the low 90s on one occasion.  I think we spent about as much time in the ER during those five days as I did sleeping.  Things got so bad for a couple of days that Sherry and I took shifts sleeping right by Caden’s side much like we did in the early days.  Now he is doing much better.  He only had to get three days of Rocephion shots and he is about to finish a round of Augmentin.

Prayer Request

Please pray for:

  • Complete healing of Caden’s little body.
  • Discernment for us.
  • Wisdom for the cardiologist and heart surgeon.
  • Speedy appointment with CHOP for a second opinion on Caden’s back.
  • Protection from infections and illnesses.
  • Rest for the entire family.

 PS: Grass-Fed Beef Coming

I am in line for a side of grass-fed beef.  Please contact me via email if you would like to partner on a portion of this beef and I will send you cost information.  The side of beef should render approximately 200lbs of packaged meat depending on how it is packaged (amount of bone and fat left in).  That would be approximately 50lbs per partner family if I get three folks to join me as I hope.