New Surgery Date for Mitchell

Mitchell's surgery is scheduled for January 7th with pre-op on January 6th.

Thankful for an excellent location for Mitchell's care.  They happen to be very busy right now.  Praying for the children in CICU at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. ❤️

Surgery Canceled

Thinking of the staff and children at CHOA.  Right now the CICU is full, & many children are awaiting transplant.

Mitchell's surgery has been tentatively re-scheduled for 12/11/15.  Will update once confirmed.

Appreciate your continued prayers.

Surgery Scheduled 12/8/15

We will be heading to Atlanta on December 6th.  Pre-op will be Monday morning at 8 a.m. with surgery on December 8th.  Will post time once we have it- likely not until 12/7.

We are thankful for his surgeon, Dr. Kirk Kanter at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.  He is very experienced with HLHS.  This Open Heart Surgery will be his 3rd, the Fontan, to supply more passive blood flow to his lungs.

Thank you for your prayers & support.

Will update as we have more information.

Pensacola Cardiology Appointment

Mitchell's local cardiologist will see him September 17th to follow-up from his cath & discuss plan for surgery.  

Tentatively, she said "probably within 6 months" (by February), but plan to discuss benefit/risk as his sats were 87% post cath.  Dilating the stent in his pulmonary artery seems to have improved his saturation.  The benefit of waiting would be delaying potential post-Fontan complications, but he would require another heart cath.  We will do whatever she and his Atlanta team feel is best for him.

Thank you for your thoughts & prayers! ❤️

Discharged!

Mitchell's cath went very well.  He received diagnostic clearance for the Fontan procedure, and the stent in his pulmonary artery was dilated from 8mm to 10mm.

Atlanta will correspond with Pensacola and decide on a plan of action.  Ready for surgery, but could we wait? Reasoning for waiting is complications that can develop post-Fontan because of the compromised circulation (specifically related to the increased pressures to the liver).

They have care conferences on Mondays and will discuss Mitchell after speaking to his Cardiologist at home.  Will keep you posted as we know more.

This heart Cath will serve as diagnostic for surgery for up to 6 months.

Thank you for coming, Bob & Carolyn!

Back in room and doing well!

Back in room and doing well.  Still waiting for report from his doctor.

Cath finished!

Nurse said he did well.  We left for a minute for them to bring him back and get settled.  Waiting for report from his doctor; and we should be back to his room before he is really awake.

Diagnostic Complete; Dilating Stent

Nurse update- Mitchell is doing well.  They just completed the diagnostic part of the Cath and are now ballooning the stent in his pulmonary artery.

Back to the Cath Lab 8:15 EST

Mitchell just went back to the Cath lab.  The staff here at CHOA has been amazing.  We utilized his G tube for the first time in a very long time for some pre-meds; so he went back relaxed.  He did want mommy to come with him 😪, but the nurse came back and said how great he did.  He is asleep now, and I'm guessing they have started.  He's in good hands with the Director of Interventional Cardiology.  And my sweet sister reminded me that Jesus is with him. ❤️

The plan is diagnostic in preparation for his next surgery; and they may be able to dilate the stent in his left pulmonary artery.  If there are numerous collateral vessels, they will coil those as well.

Appreciate everyone praying for Mitchell right now.

Thank you!

Mitchell's Cath Schedule

We arrived in Atlanta tonight.  Plan is 6 a.m. check-in at the hospital for 1st cath case tomorrow around 7:30 a.m.

Will keep you posted as we have information.

Thank you for your prayers & support! ❤️

Pre-Fontan Cath Scheduled

Mitchell turned 6 on May 20th!  Not sure where the time goes!  We are very thankful for his progress; and for several years of a more "normal" life for him.
This next step doesn't come as a surprise, but can't say we're eager to get there.

As expected, Mitchell's oxygen saturation has declined with his growth.  He now peaks around 81%.  His diagnostic Pre-Fontan Heart Catheterization has been scheduled for Friday, August 7th, in Atlanta.  His surgeon will review the Cath report & proceed with scheduling surgery.  We anticipate a reasonable amount of recovery time from the Cath, with surgery potential as early as September.

For those interested, I will attach a link with a description of his diagnosis, as well as his upcoming surgery.  http://www.choa.org/child-health-glossary/h/hy/hypoplastic-left-heart-syndrome

We appreciate the prayers and support of our friends and family.

Here are a few pictures from Mitchell's 2015 scar contest: