Surgery has begun....and I am totally losing my mind

This morning was the first morning I can remember in a long time that we had to wake Brody up.  He said he didn't want to go and get his heart fixed  he just wanted to go home.  Poor little dude but he was so strong and brave and stubborn....he would not put on the hospital pj's so they took him back in his Rider pj's.

Once we get word after his surgery I will post something with an update.  Surgery will take 5 to 6 hours.

Preopp done only surgery to go

We were at Preopp bright and early 8am....it was a long day for our little warrior.  He went through an echo twice, EKG,  meeting various people and even had blood work done.  Brody NEVER cried during any tests.   He has been such a brave little guy I couldn't be more proud of him at this moment.

After we were done we were all so exhausted we came back to Ronald McDonald house and took a 2 hour nap.  It was awesome.  We then decided  to give Brody his favorite supper out Bugs And Cheese from Boston Pizza.  We then went downtown for a quick visit with cousin Jerry and Autie Bev.   He got to swing and watch the boats in the harbour he loved it.

Now just getting ready for bed and praying for a somewhat peaceful sleep to prepare us for tomorrow.

One last thing, there are some great things to do here at Ronald McDonald house. ..especially slides..soon buddy you won't need to take a break all the time just enjoy☺

We have arrived!!!

The date is set - SEPTEMBER 11

We have received a date (a while back but not sure I really wanted to deal with it).  It is going to be on September 11.  We are flying out to Vancouver on Sept 9 for preopp on 10th.  Thanks to the Saskatchewan Children's Hospital Foundation for covering at least two flights as it really does help out.

Brody is going in for the Fontan surgery.  What does this mean you ask???  With his first surgery his blood got directed to come from his head directly to his lungs with very little coming from his heart.  Now they will reverse that...they will direct the blood from his lower body to come directly to his lungs, make his heart a three chamber heart and remove the bad valve.  It is still open heart but they will not have to stop his heart with this one.  Also if all goes well this should be his last surgery possibly ever!!!  Nothing is ever for sure but for now I will take it as I am pretty sure I am going to be a complete and udder mess as we get closer to the date.

So that being said we have been out having some summer fun and took a family holiday.  We did what we refer to as the Alberta loop...Medicine Hat, Drumheller, Calgary, and Banff.  Here is some great pics of Brody having a blast.

THE TIME HAS COME :(

We went for a check up on June 23, 2014 as my Mom's intuition kicked in and was telling me something wasn't right.  It was right (dam intuition).

When they did Brody's first surgery they made a whole between the top two chambers of his heart to assist in mixing the blood properly that goes out to the body.  Brody's hole is trying to heal itself and is starting to grow shut which is causing him to tire much more easily.  So we are now in waiting mode to hear from the surgical team in Vancouver as to what our next steps are.  I won't say I am not scared to death and I think about it all the time.  I just can't believe we have to go through this again and almost 3 years to the day from his last surgery.

On the up side Brody is doing well.  He is enjoying summer and his big brother. He loves going to the park and riding his bike.  When is tired out from his day his favorite thing to do is snuggle with Grandpa.



 

 

Brody and Caine had their yearly pictures taken again by Drawn Daisy Photography. Krista is so wonderful with the kids and they have so many good pics..here are a few.

Stay tuned for updates next week (and if I can actually fix those pictures that are coming on sideways)

HAPPY 2 YEAR HEARTIVERSARY!!!!

It has been 2 years now since Brody had his first open heart surgery, which was August 8 but I am really slow at updating the blog.  We celebrated by getting Blizzards from Dairy Queen to support their Miracle Foundation Day!!!

We were also in Saskatoon on August 7 to get his follow up for his tubes in his ears.  The one ear is at a passing level but the other ear is not.  So we have to go get him checked out in about a month again to see if it passes.  The Doctor wasn't too worried that it won't be he wants both to pass before he let's it go.  The funny part is the doctor asked if he was sleeping better and I thought about it and he is.  He is sleeping through most nights and it is due to the tubes being put in his ears.  I cannot believe the doctor in Regina wasn't going to put tubes in as he has become a much happier kid since.  He talks more, interacts more with others and is just generally more happy.  I am glad I asked and Marie made it happen :)

AWESOME CHECKUP!!!!!!

Brody went in for a cardio checkup which was to happen about 2 months post his heart cath.  We received FABULOUS NEWS........

Brody is doing so well they don't see a forseeable surgery in his near future.  With most kids with the Glenn surgery they require the Fontan surgery around this age as they are not getting the enzymes from the liver to the lungs.  However since he has a pulmonary valve with stenosis still working in his heart it is pushing enough of the enzyme from his liver to his lungs that he is completely healthy without any additional surgery at this time.  His oxygen levels are still at 92 and they said if they did the Fontan at this time those levels would go down so why would they.

They are still thinking a bi-ventricle repair is in his future, where they can repair his heart to make it a four chamber heart and put in a new pulmonary valve (which would have to be replaced as he grows older but with science the way it is maybe by that time he wont need open heart surgery just something laproscopic)

We are SSOOO HAPPY!!!  We can just go on living until he tells us he is ready and that would be anywhere from a year to 5 years.