Wednesday, July 16, 2008

9.5 hours of surgery later....

Well... as we all knew Yale is a very strong surviver! Today was long to say the least, but in the end, we've got good news...
After speaking with Dr C Calderone, Yale's surgeon, he was hoping once again to tell us that everything went smoothly, however there were a few bumps along the way. All of these "bumps" are normal and can arrise in any surgery, but this is the gist of his summary of the surgery.
-Yale had some bleeding issues during his surgery, and required quite a few transfusions. Again, not unexpected, but not great.
-He noticed that the coronaries (the veins the supply blood to the heart muscle) where they are supplied from the aorta were small. He said it was good that he had is surgery when he did as it was just a disaster waiting to happen. He said that this, in connection with his restriced PDA ,were probably the cause for his poor funtion and failure when He was flown to Sick Kids
-Yale was on bypass for about 5 hours. His heart has been slow to recoup, and he will likely be needing some assistance with medication to get it up to snuff. He did however notice that all his numbers were steadily getting better over the 5 hours he was off of bypass and therefore thought it was safe to go ahead and close his chest.
-We won't know until Yale is well on the road to recovery whether there was any more neurological damage. the risk is great considering his past...but only time will tell.
Basically, other than what to expect over the nex few days-weeks, thats about it. Now its just the wait. the next 48 hours will prove if there will be any more major setbacks. So keep you're prayers and positive thoughts coming.

Also please please please Pray for little Megan Tremblay. She was supposed to have her surgery today but it was postponed until tomorrow. We spent pre-op chit chatting with them, and as this will be Megan's first surgery, (and a big one at that) they will need lots of prayers. We all know they work!
So in the meantime we only spent a few minutes with Yale once he was in the CICU. We're exhausted, and know full well we can trust the nurses and doctors...so we'll be taking advantage and geting some much needed rest (the last few days have been pretty sleepless to say the least) Anyhoo... I snapped some pictures of Yale this morning while waiting to be taken down for surgery and him in recovery. (I think it was pretty fitting that the room we were assigned before surgery was number 7....lucky?)I was expecting much worse when we finally got to see him, but was pleasantly surprised to see the full amount of swelling and bruising has yet to set in! Thank you everyone!


Yale's Grandma

Hello Everyone,

Well its been a very long day for all of Yale's fans and family. I just got off the telephone with Tanna. Yale's surgery started at 10:15 am and finished at 7:30 pm. Yale is in recovery and doing as well as can be expected. The next 48 hours will be critical. There were a few issues but Tanna will fill everyone in as soon as she can get to a computer to update the blog. Bottom line is that my grandson is a strong little man and made it through surgery ok. Please keep your prayers coming for his full recovery.

Yale's Grandma

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Last Post Until....

Okay everyone... I just wanted to say a whole hearted thankyou to all the well wishes, they are greatly need and well appreciated...


This will be the last post I make until I let you all know how surgery went!!! Wow... am i ever going through every emotion there is...


Anyhoo just wanted to leave you with this!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Its a date!

Okay.... so this will be quick and short. Surgery is officially set for July 16th. I feel a mixture of emotions, obviously fear, but shockingly enough I am also excited. I honestly went "YAY" when Amanda said that his function is good, and so we're keeping everything as it is! Next time we're at Sick Kids it will be for pre-op... WOOHOO!

Oh and I got to meet the Raepples. Dominic had his fontan and they got discharged today. I must say he sure is just as cute in person.... I cannot wait until I am in that position. To have the Fontan over and done with and no more "expected" surgeries on the horizon... Wow what a relief they must be feeleing! Congrats to you guys! Here is his blog -->http://myqtdominic.blogspot.com/

Sunday, June 22, 2008

How far we've come!

So, when thinking about Yales upcoming surgery, and thinking about how far we've come I thought I'd post a little video... one to get you all to see how far he's come...

Think about this little man when you think positive thoughts!
(after technical difficulties adding it directly to the blog, here is a link.... hope it works!

http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q175/Tannaleigh/?action=view&current=yalejune22.flv

P.S. I know I run out of music before video and the date is his hybrid surgery date, not birth date... just go with it... its late and I'm tired of editing.. for his 1st birthday it will be perfect I promise!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

that sick feeling in my stomach

Here it comes again. So the story is.... Yale has an echo at Sick Kids on the 24th. If that goes well and his heart function is the same as it is currently, or increased (I wish) They will go ahead with stage 2 on July 16th 2008. If it is some how poor function, then we will change medications and try to get it better.... I however, doubt that the second will happen. Yale is looking and acting the best he ever has... I think its now or never to get this surgery done. As much as I hate to even think about what that means, I really just want to cross this bridge and have it in the past.

So funny as the girl booking the appointment is looking and explaining this too me, and she's like... cuz just after that Dr Calderone will be away for a while.. And I was like... oh so he gets to go on vacation AFTER he reconstructs Yale's heart? I wouldn't mind catching him after he comes back.... LOL

Anyhoo.... thats me, finding some sort of humour in the situation.... so everyone... I am asking we begin with the positive thoughts. We all want to see Yale get to celebrate his first birthday... that will be a miracle to say the least....

I know I have faith in his doctors, and in the staff at sick kids that everything will be done to give him the best chance at making it that far! Its my fear that the higher powers have some other plan. I know I will make peace with whatever happens... but we all know what I would CHOOSE if I had the choice....

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Some more time

Well okay this might be a little bit rambly, but I know I left everyone hanging with a surgery date in the future. The news is that there is no date set as of yet. From a rambling conversation I had with Paula, the gist I got from things is that he is doing well, but they want to make sure his heart function gets back to where it was, and give his body time to rest and to put on a bit more weight (his is at the right weight for surgery). Dr Golding wants Yale to have an echo sometime at the end of June and we will go from there. Thats about all I know. So I get to yet enjoy some good weather with Yale without an actual date looming over us like a black cloud. I mean... I know whats coming.. but not having a count down is kind of nice right now.


In the meantime, here are a few pics of Yale to get you by... :D