After only 5 hours of surgery, Averi was brought to the Cardiac ICU at 1:00p.m. Dr. Galantowicz, the heart surgeon, came to tell us that, drum roll please…everything went great! He had to repair her Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), a very large hole between the lower chambers in her heart. He was even impressed by how big the hole was. He also tied off her Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), a vessel on the heart that didn’t close at birth, and repaired a very small Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), a hole between the upper chambers of her heart that just needed one stitch.She was placed on a heart lung bypass machine for the surgery but came off of it very quickly with normal heart rhythms. They didn’t even have to place temporary pacemaker wires, which would have been needed if any abnormal rhythms were detected.
When we saw her in the CICU she had a drainage tube coming out of her chest (to drain junk from around her heart and lungs), an arterial line in her groin, a central line in her neck, an IV in her thumb, several holes in her arms and legs where they tried to place IV’s and failed, a catheter, and a very large bandage running down her chest. She was very agitated at first, causing a lot of blood to drain out, and had to be given a little more blood. She never really settled for very long before crying again, except when the nurse pushed the “feel good” button.
By the end of the day, Averi finally started to calm down a little and the drainage slowed as well. We are continually amazed by the medical advancements that have given our daughter life. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!
13 comments:
I am so glad it went well! We love you! And you amaze me!! :)
Yeah! I am so glad the surgery went well. I was praying all day for her. It is so amazing that they have the advances in medicine to help Averi make it. She looks so fragile hooked up to all those tubes. It brought tears to my eyes.
I am glad that the surgery went so well! How hard for you as parents to see your sweet baby have to go through all of this...but it is a comfort to have the support from friends, family, and our Heavenly Father! I hope that everything continues to go so well!
Oh I am so grateful everything went well!! She has been on my mind - all of you have. On one hand it's sad to see her have to go through this, but you hit the nail on the head - it's giving her life!! Which is amazing! We are blessed to live in such a time that we do have these advancements. Love you all! Let me know what you need!!!
I am so glad everything went well! She looks so sad, but so cute at the same time, in that last picture. Plus you forgot to mention the hole in her tummy for her Gtube. She's just a holy little girl, I guess. ;)
Oh, Tiffany...I am so glad it went well. That picture of her smiling is so, so, so, so adorable. I love the one of her in the post before this one, too.
I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am for modern medicine, too.
John has had to have some procedures at the hospital where he had to wear one of those little hospital gowns (except his was peach colored) I almost asked to take one home with me...I know, that is weird.
What a cute, cute post. I love you guys and I love that baby Averi. Struggles and blessings sometimes come in the same package. What a miracle that this surgery can be performed and that she is doing so well.
Great post guys. I love the picture of her smiling after the feel good button was pushed. What a little trooper, she's amazing. We're happy and grateful she's doing well. We love you all.
That last picture broke my heart! What a little trooper. So glad to hear that everything went better than expected!
I'm so relieved to know that everything went well with the surgery. I wanted to call, but didn't want to overwhelm you that day. You are all such troopers & I'm proud of each of you. Give that sweet girl a kiss from us. You're in our prayers. Lots of love!
I am so thankful that is over with and everything went well. That had to about kill you to have to walk away from her and then to see her afterwards with all that junk all over her. My heart goes out to you! She is a beautiful little girl. I love the picture in the previous post of her and Kaili in matching dresses! Adorable!!!!!! :)
I was thinking and praying about you guys that whole day. I'm so glad that it went smoothly. I need to call you soon! For real, like our three hour calls, email me sometime so we can schedule that. I need my Tiff and she needs her Tina
I saw your last picture with Averi and all her tubes. It brought back tears to my eyes and the memories of Nick with the same tubes. It is amazing what is available now to help our little babies.
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