Blog update 4-5-09

Dear KSG,

Thank you so much for your continued prayer. This week has been particularly challenging for us. Kolton will be facing his first heart surgery on Monday. The reality of it has been slowly seeping in over this past week. We are either solid as a rock or falling part over the AT&T roll-over minute commercials. We pray for a day to argue with the boys about roll-over minutes.
Kolton's week has been full of pre-op procedures. He had an echocardiogram of his heart and a CT scan of his head. His brain development looks normal for his age. This is a really big win for him. Kolton has also had his blood gases, blood chemistry, platelets, and red blood cell levels tested. He has finally tipped the 6lb mark and weighs in at 6lbs and almost an oz. This extra weight will be very helpful for him post-op.

The surgery itself...is open heart surgery that will take approximately 4-6 hours. It should start around 7:30am tomorrow morning. Kolton will have a band placed on is pulmonary vein. The band will increase the pressure on his left ventricle. It will then take about 10 days for the ventricle to strengthen. Theoretically, the increased pressure from the band should also force additional blood and oxygen across the hole in his heart. This should keep his blood saturation levels of oxygen at an acceptable level. However, it is also very likely that he will destabilize as a result of the band. If this happens, he will be placed on ECMO (life support). While in the OR, after the band is placed, the surgeons will just monitor him. They will test his saturation levels to determine if ECMO is needed or not. If it is not needed, he gets closed-up and sent to recovery. If it is needed, he will be placed on ECMO and then sent to recovery. ECMO adds increased risks for Kolton so we pray he will not need it.

Once the ventricle has strengthened, he will be ready for the switch operation. This is the surgery where they will actually switch the vessels to their appropriate position. He will then finally be to grow, recover, and learn - the path home. We anticipate brining him home by mid-May.

We know that it has been your prayer that has gotten Kolton and us this far. We just ask for that continued vigor in prayer.

Much love-
Gretchen, Kyle, Tavyn, Kolton & Naboo