6 Week Post Op Appt. Report

Gavin loves to help take off his EKG leads, the tech is always impressed at how still he is and how helpful he is! (He is trying to put on that strong face, this doesn't hurt!)

Gavin had a good report from the cardiologist... still no fluid on the chest and his EKG looked great! They took Gavin off of his non-fat diet and discontinued his medical equipment (stay tune for pictures of the day they come to pick it all up). Gavin will have a heart cath in December to close up the fenestration hole. Gavin will have every 3 month check-ups with the cardiologist for the next year, if all continues to go well Gavin will have every 6 month check-ups for the rest of his life. Gavin will also have labs done every week until the cath to watch his INR levels for one of his meds.

During the appointment we discussed what will happen with Gavin's long term health. There were three main concerns that the cardiologist said to watch for in the coming years. Gavin only has the right side (two-chambers) of his heart which is doing all of the work for what should be a four chamber heart. Basically they watch to make sure the heart and certain valves don't start getting lazy. Of course if that happens then a heart transplant would be the next step. Secondly, watch for PLE, or protein-losing enteropathy, if you want to know all about it, google "PLE after Fontan procedure". Symptoms include diarrhea, stomach distention, swelling. Lastly if Gavin were to have any of the valves in his heart to start leaking they would surgically go in and repair them. We feel that Gavin is doing great now and we will continue to pray that none of these obstacles will come his way! They always try to prepare you for the worst. However, I found that when I worried about the "what-if's, could be's" when I was pregnant... I stressed for no reason because the majority of the complications did not happen with Gavin. On a good note, Gavin will be allowed to play T-Ball & Soccer next year, it's the high school & competitive age that he would physically not be able to play. Golf is always an option! We are completely fine with that and really we just want Gavin to do what makes him happy and keeps him healthy! We think he will just be our little book worm because he is already so smart! Maybe a heart surgeon in the works?? Cute story: yesterday he was telling the nurse what to do next, "listen to heart","blood pressure". He's not even three yet and he is telling the nurse how to do her job?!? The nurse had to prick his finger to get his INR levels for one of the anti-coagulants that he is on. He didn't even flinch or cry... then an hour into the drive home he woke up from his nap bawling "prick my finger, my finger!". So dramatic! Needless to say we are happy to be home and really move on with this new phase of life. I can't begin to tell you how happy and thankful we are, life is good and God is GREAT!

P.S. Say a prayer for Baby Cain (HRHS) and his family, he is having is Glenn repair today!