Dr. Overman (the surgeon) just met with us. He said everything went well. They were not able to "marry" the two pulmonary arteries together, and had to use a Gortex tube to connect them, but he had told us this morning this was a possibility. Tovin's right side artery was good and very plump. His left side was tiny and semi curved, whatever that means. Anyway, there was no way to connect the two without using a tube because of the size difference and the distance between them. After they stitched them together using the tube they put the shunt into his heart, in place of a pulmonary valve, then joined that with the pulmonary artery tube they used, to make a "T" from the heart into the pulmonary arteries.
That's the version two Special Education teachers heard of what happened to Tovin today, the lay man's version anyway. I'm sure if you have any sort of medical background you're shaking your head! Bear with us...we just know that whatever God has in store for our sweet little boy, he will be better prepared for it now that this first surgery has been successful!
Tovin's oxygen stats have doubled! He is now running in the 80's...not necessary perfect, but perfect enough and perfect for us! His color and growth will improve greatly! Dr. Overman stated that he will still be a little "blue" and also become out of breath but not as bad as before. He said that he anticipates that within a year or so Tovin will be ready for the second, more involved surgery to completely reconstruct his heart. A plan for the method they will use, and what that reconstruction will all consist of has been discussed by the doctors. This plan will evolve and change as needed, based on how Tovin does with his recovery from this first surgery.
So glad to hear that all went well. We were all thinking about you!
ReplyDeleteThe VanderGrintens