Pre-op with the Heart Catheter Team

Went down to Lucille Packard Children's Hospital today at 12:30pm for Jon Michael's pre-op with the Heart Catheter Team. He was teething and fussing all night so we knew we were in for a long day. When we were making the turn onto the hospital campus, we both simultaneously let out a sigh...it seemed like a year since we'd made that turn yet seemed like yesterday all at the same time. Either way, it's a heart-breaking turn to make.

Unloading the little guy into the stroller, we enjoyed the warm Palo Alto sunshine on the short walk up to the hospital entrance. Admittance was fairly quick and then we headed over to the Cardiac Intake Unit. He weighed in at 13.2 lbs and is about 25" in height...long? Seems weird to measure someone that can't stand in height. Seems weirder, I suppose, to measure him like a reptile. I still say 25" long.

Next was an echo cardiogram. It took quite a while for the technician to find his shunt which, according to Amanda, happens from time to time. After about a half an hour, Jon Michael was pretty much over listening to Pachabel's 'Canon' and getting his chest pressed on by a gel-coated probe, so he started screaming. Amanda got him to sleep and the technician was able to finish up in peace.

Another technician came in and did a quick EKG. After that we got debriefed by one of the members of the Heart Catheter Team. Basically the plan is to bring him in tomorrow at 9:30am. They're going to let me follow him all the way into the operating room in scrubs and stay with him until they put him under. The procedure, barring complications, should be about 4 hours, after which they will discharge him up into another part of the hospital called 3West for overnight recovery. We have been assured that tomorrow afternoon we will find out the results and they will be able to confirm that he is still a good candidate for the Glenn Shunt that he is scheduled for on Friday.

Amanda and I think it's important that you all share this journey with us as much as possible, so I'll post again tomorrow night with pictures and updates. We'd also like to take this time to thank everyone who has donated and made it possible for us to stay here with our son during this difficult time. You are all amazing friends and, as far as I'm concerned, you're all family now.

Please have an amazing evening and a beautiful day tomorrow! Also, feel free to re-post the link to this blog on Facebook, Twitter or whatever sort of social media poison you prefer. We're still trying to raise money on the link to the right, so any re-posts would be much appreciated!!!

Much love,

~Jeff Martin