Jersey #2 is a heart patient. We say she is the cutest face of heart disease! She was born with the heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot. There were 4 things wrong with her heart...1) a hole between the ventricles (lower chambers)...2) a narrowing at the pulmonary valve, where blood goes to the lungs for oxygen (pulmonary stenosis)....3) her aorta (major artery carrying blood away from the heart) was out of place, hanging out at that hole between the lower chambers instead--which meant it was carrying blood that had oxygen, mixed with blood that did not have full oxygen...and 4), the right ventricle (lower chamber) was enlarged, because the muscle was having to work so hard to push blood towards the lungs, due to the narrowing.
She underwent a successful open-heart surgery when she was 2.5 months old. The amazing surgeon was able to fix all 4 problems with 1 single surgery. Unfortunately, her pulmonary valve was underdeveloped, so he had to cut it to open that narrowing. She has lived with a mesh patch in place of a valve so far. She has to be evaluated by her cardiologist regularly, to keep an eye on her heart, and to make sure that patch is still working. Due to the nature of this particular heart defect, she will require cardiology check-ups her entire life. She will also require a valve placement....and future valve re-placements throughout her lifetime.
Yesterday, we visited the cardiologist for an annual check-up. Annual is the best kind of heart check-ups, because that is an indicator that a patient is at their best heart health! I took a few picture along the way...
After taking all of her vital signs, the Cardiology Tech sets up for the EKG. Jersey #2 asked her how many sticky tabs she was going to use. The answer is 10.
She underwent a successful open-heart surgery when she was 2.5 months old. The amazing surgeon was able to fix all 4 problems with 1 single surgery. Unfortunately, her pulmonary valve was underdeveloped, so he had to cut it to open that narrowing. She has lived with a mesh patch in place of a valve so far. She has to be evaluated by her cardiologist regularly, to keep an eye on her heart, and to make sure that patch is still working. Due to the nature of this particular heart defect, she will require cardiology check-ups her entire life. She will also require a valve placement....and future valve re-placements throughout her lifetime.
Yesterday, we visited the cardiologist for an annual check-up. Annual is the best kind of heart check-ups, because that is an indicator that a patient is at their best heart health! I took a few picture along the way...
After taking all of her vital signs, the Cardiology Tech sets up for the EKG. Jersey #2 asked her how many sticky tabs she was going to use. The answer is 10.
EKG...10 wires attached via sticky tab to specific areas of the chest, provide electrical readings to the attached computer. It takes longer to set up the sticky tabs than it takes to run the EKG reading.
Jersey #2 got to remove the sticky tabs all by herself. She was mighty proud...
Next was an exam with the cardiologist, followed by an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of her heart). I didn't get pictures this time. After the echo Jersey #2 gets to pick a toy out of the prize box. This is very important to her. She did not let her cardiologist forget that part of the process! We then met up in the exam room again to discuss the findings of the day.
Unfortunately, the cardiologist announced IT'S TIME! Time to get that valve placed. Everyone had hoped Jersey #2 could grow to adulthood before getting that first artificial valve. Unfortunately, her heart is not going to cooperate with that plan, so they need to act sooner. The next step is a series of tests to make absolutely sure her cardiology team is acting at the "right" time to place the valve.
First up, the Holter monitor. This is a portable EKG that stays attached for 24 hours, giving a complete report of the electrical patterns of her heart throughout a whole day and night. We do not want her right ventrical to start failing, and throw off the rhythms of her heart. Jersey #2 wears this monitor and goes about her life as normal.
Unfortunately, the cardiologist announced IT'S TIME! Time to get that valve placed. Everyone had hoped Jersey #2 could grow to adulthood before getting that first artificial valve. Unfortunately, her heart is not going to cooperate with that plan, so they need to act sooner. The next step is a series of tests to make absolutely sure her cardiology team is acting at the "right" time to place the valve.
First up, the Holter monitor. This is a portable EKG that stays attached for 24 hours, giving a complete report of the electrical patterns of her heart throughout a whole day and night. We do not want her right ventrical to start failing, and throw off the rhythms of her heart. Jersey #2 wears this monitor and goes about her life as normal.
She is such a good sport about all of the medical interventions she must endure. And, clearly, she is the cutest face of heart disease!
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