One BIG Week

Jersey #2 survived open-heart surgery! Her recovery has been an amazing whirlwind. She has come a long way in just 1 week.

Her surgery lasted over 6 hours, and included over 100 minutes on the heart/lung bypass machine. The additional complexity to the surgery was due to the discovery of a small hole between the atria (upper chambers) of her heart, which is called the patent foramen ovale. This usually closes at birth, or within 2 years of life, but hers did not close completely. Other folks can live just fine with a small hole there...unless they need to go on the bypass machine. Plus, there was a small coronary injury, while trying to get through the scar tissue, which also had to be repaired. Jersey #2's heart was enlarged, and rotated out of its normal plane, making the surgeon have to reframe his approach to finding all of her heart parts. He is patient, and skilled, and his workmanship is world-renowned. Plus, we were all praying, so we knew she was in good hands.

Shortly after surgery, we met up with Jersey #2 in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit...

She was on a ventilator (breathing tube) for 24 hours. She was sedated...



Recovery Day 1: She was happy when that tube was able to be removed. She also takes to morphine well...

Recovery Day 2: This was the hardest day by far. Sitting up hurt. Deep breathing hurt. Coughing was intensely painful. It was hard to watch my baby go through that level of pain. I'm certain it was hard for her to live that level of pain. She was a trooper. I tried to smile through it all and encourage her every step of the way. It was actually easy to smile, because I was so proud of her....and so very blessed to be her Mom.

Recovery Day 3: She was feeling stronger and able to sit up on her own. Medicines were weaned. 1 chest tube was removed, and the IV line in her neck was removed.

Recovery Day 4: The 2nd chest tube was removed. Pacer wires were removed. Arterial line was removed. The IV port in her foot was removed. She was moved out of the ICU and into an acute care unit. She was free to get up and walk around. This also meant she was able to visit the Child Life Playroom in the hospital...

Recovery Day 5: Discharge Day! Jersey #2 made an amazing recovery. She stunned her parents and her entire medical team. We were expecting at least a week in the hospital. She was up and around quickly, and eating well, so they decided she could go home...

1 Week After Open-Heart Surgery: Jersey #2 had a check-up with her Cardiologist here at home. She confirmed that the surgery was a great success, and that Jersey #2's recovery is impressive. Doc says Jersey #2 looks so fantastic, that she does not need another cardiology check-up for 3 months! We should continue to notice an improvement in her recovery and energy a little each day. She should take it very easy the first 2 weeks, and then return to regular activities as she feels up for it. We have precautions to take for the wound sites, and precautions to take for the sternotomy (broken sternum)...but everything should be at its best in about 6-8 weeks. Wow! I took this picture of her today. It is so hard to believe that this child had open-heart surgery 1 week ago...