11 Pounds, Home Life, and the Glenn

 

This is Hope in her hospital gown...I really wish they could splurge and get some pink gowns for the little girls.

 
So many updates to share with everyone. We made it home on Sunday afternoon and Hope has been doing great. Her sats are back in the high 70s and low 80s. She is no longer taking her Captopril or Lasix. We are getting her ready for her Glenn and they want to make sure her kidneys are working their best on Monday, the 8th...the date of her Glenn.  She will be admitted on the 7th for IV fluids (this is a kidney thing and not normally needed for the Glenn).  We are praying like crazy that the surgery goes really well and the recovery is a lot easier than her recovery from her catheterization.

 

Daddy and his little girl!

Hope reached her 11 pound milestone today, although I am not sure how accurate that is. She is off her Lasix and Captopril, so no diuretics means she may be retaining fluids and that means her weight may not be accurate. I still liked seeing it on the scale today, so I thought I would put it up on her blog.

Home life is great and Hope definitely knew she was coming home and has been a different little girl at home. When we left the hospital she was so much happier and I know that when we put her in the car she knew we were heading home. She has been laughing and talking with the boys since we came home. I know they missed her as well.

 

My little cutie loved playing with all the wires...too much fun!

I am going to post a little information on the Glenn for anyone that is not sure what it is:

The bidirectional Glenn procedure is the surgery used to prepare the heart for a Fontan procedure. It is a surgery in which a detour (shunt) is created from the aorta to the pulmonary artery. The surgery is performed on infants and young children who are born with a congenital heart defect that reduces the amount of oxygen-rich blood circulating throughout the body. These infants often show signs such as a bluish tint (cyanosis) to the skin, lips, fingernails and other parts of the body. Although a successful procedure will improve immediate signs and symptoms of the underlying heart defect, the procedure does not correct the heart defect. Other surgeries are usually necessary in the future to repair the defect itself.


The bidirectional shunt is performed by connecting the superior vena cava (SVC) to the right branch of the pulmonary artery using fine sutures, and dividing or tying up the pulmonary artery. Now, venous blood from the head and upper limbs will pass directly to the lungs, bypassing the right ventricle. The venous blood from the lower half of the body however will continue to enter the heart.

How is a BDG helpful ?

It decreases volume load on the single ventricle while improving oxygen saturation as compared to the pre-operative state. In addition, by being a low-pressure shunt, it does not carry the risk of causing lung blood vessel thickening and hardening.