Decision is Made

Since I last wrote a lot has happened. They were finally able to do the ultrasound via the oesophagus & this showed what we were already aware of/expecting from the other scan, that her tricuspid valve (between the 2 right chambers of the heart) is leaking quite a bit, & that the stent put in to keep the ductus arteriosus open is starting to become blocked. So all going well & unless Hannah has a big leap forward in the positive direction over the weekend, she will have her next BIG op on Tuesday. This will involve repairing the leaking valve & doing the next stage of the 3 operatations. This second op is normally done at 3-4mths of age. Because she had the Hybrid procedure for her first op, the next stage is called the Hybrid Stage 2, which essentially is a combination of the Norwood (usually the first op) & the Glenn procedures. This involved 3 stages:
1. Removal of the stent in the ductus arteriosus and pulmonary artery bands, which were placed in the first op
2. The aortic arch is enlarged by disconnecting the small ascending aorta and connecting the aorta with the pulmonary artery root to make one large vessel, creating a new aorta.
3. The superior vena cava (brings blood back to heart from upper part of body) is connected to the pulmonary artery. This is called a Glenn shunt. This allows upper body blood flow to go directly to the pulmonary artery & lungs to be oxygenated, and the blood is not pumped through the heart first. This is a passive blood flow into the lungs.

It is possible that they will not be able to the 3rd stage due to too high of a pressure in the lungs, which newborns normally have & normally reduces when they are a bit older. If this is the case they will have to do a BT shunt instead. This is normally done during the Norwood procedure.

So are you with me? Followed all that & got it clear in your head? Well done if you have! It's taken 3 explainations from the drs & numerous pictures & explainations on the net & I'm still not sure I've got my head round it all yet.

Now as you can see this is a BIG operatation with BIG risks. No one knows if Hannah is strong enough to pull through it. She has a few things going against her. For one she is still quite small & not at full health & strength. Two, she has a mild infection in her CVC line & perineum. However, Tom & I have a real peace about it. I believe that God will get her through this despite the odds. Having said that I'm still constantly praying that all will go well & would ask you to do the same.
Please pray:
* that Hannah will have the strength to pull through the operation & recovery.
* skill, wisdom & guidance for the doctors/surgeons
* that the pressure in Hannah's lungs will be low enough to be able to do the Glenn shunt.
* peace & strength for Tom & I