Mending a Fixed Heart :)

I like this bandage much better!! Simple :)
(sorry the pics uploaded out of order)

Setting up for the Mending of Tritton's "Fixed" Heart!

This was before surgery-gotta love the bow tie look!!
(I know I am biased-but isn't he a looker!! LOVE HIM!!)

Monday, June 6, 2011 (Post Surgery-Day 4)
Today Tritton's heart and chest was mended back together and now we can start the real healing process!! Yeah! Dr. Casa preformed the surgery and did a really great job. Tritts swelling was down significantly and around 1:00 here came the prep team to get his bedside ready. They preformed the surgery there at his bedside after their sterilized everything. We were not allowed to be around so we went to lunch down at the cafeteria and then waited in the waiting room.

The doctor said that his heart pumps, valves, and arteries all looked great! They first had to clean out his chest with an antibiotic solution, then closed his sternum with stainless steel wires, next pulled the tissue together and then stitched it up, finally they glued the top of the stitches with a surgical glue that keeps the infection out. Now instead of a bow-tie look he just has a nice vertical bandage.

Tritt also got rid of the two heart pick lines in his neck, but they added another IV in his other foot. Poor kid-loose some-gain more, but all for his benefit. They also put in a feeding tube through his nose that leads to his stomach. They will begin feeding him my milk either tonight or tomorrow and slowly get decrease his "electros".

He was wide awake before they put him under for the closure, so we were able to see and visit with him. I love to see his eyes! He is such a mellow baby, just chill and calm. We love him so much-it is a love I have never felt before. :)

Tritt goals for the week, now that his chest is closed, is to continue to get rid of the fluid in his body, get the breathing tube out, and start eliminating medications, and relying fully on my milk through his feeding tube.

We also did talk to Dr. Casa about the possibility of him having to have additional surgeries to elongate the pulmonary valve and conduit that was put in his coronary-artery. He said that in some cases that it will grow with the child depending on if the length they put in fits well as he grows. If he does need to have addition surgeries they now can go up through the groin and like a balloon open it up to allow blood flow, or if they have to go in again (several years down the road) the surgery is not as intense as this first has been. He said that right now, NOT to worry about it and looked right at me. . . I think he could see my concern on my face. What he said sure helped keep my focus on the now and perspective in the long run. What an amazing doctor! So grateful for his work and ability to be guided by the Lord.

Oh! And one thing I have not mentioned that I thought was interesting. . . Tritton's Pulmonary Valve and Conduit is very special. . . We were given a card that shows the its own serial number and date as to what it is and when it was put into his body. We were told to keep the card safe just like you would your social security card. WOW!! Talk about a valuable, but life changing part!

Please know that we Thank You all for your prayers and love! We are seeing a miracle unravel before our very eyes. We feel your love and support. Tritt is such a fighter and just amazes us everyday! We LOVE You all so much - Thank you!!

Chalk this day up for one of the better!! BEST!! Thus far . . .