Sunday, July 3, 2011







During a followup ultrasound, three months before my fifth baby was due, it was confirmed that he had some serious heart defects, later diagnosed as Pulmonary Valve Atresia, Right Ventricle Hypoplasia, and Tricuspid Valve Hypoplasia/Astresia, which basically meant that my baby’s whole right side of the heart could not function as it should. What stuck with me, was that my baby would not survive after birth without immediate intervention, as well as multiple surgeries, but that they were already coming up with a plan on how to help his heart function the best possible way.

When I was 38 weeks pregnant, I was induced, and I delivered Kimble safely and without any difficulties. He was immediately taken to the NICU where they started him on Prostaglandin, which kept the PDA open and allowed for enough blood to reach his lungs to be oxygenated. After a day or two, Kimble was transferred to The Children’s Hospital, right across the street from where I delivered him, and there, he spent the next five weeks undergoing many procedures.

Kimble's three defects made his diagnosis rather unique. We were never given any long-term plans. With Kimble, we've had to develop a "watch and see" type of perspective, as we waded through the different options and surgeries that would give Kimble the best possible life.

During those first five weeks of life, Kimble had his pulmonary valve “ballooned” through, multiple Cath Lab procedures, an open heart surgery to place a BT Shunt, as well as undergoing emergency surgery just three hours after they placed the Shunt, and a very, very rocky recovery following his surgeries. He also had swelling around his heart that had to be drained about a week after his surgery, as well as an infection that needed to be treated. All in all, Kimble had a terribly rough start to life.

Finally, he was released from the hospital, where we got to bring him home to meet his four other siblings. For the next six months, Kimble was stable but was observed closely by his cardiac team. His oxygen saturation was about 78 percent, which was normal for him. At six months of age, Kimble had his cleft lip repaired surgically, and he also underwent some procedures to get him ready for his next heart surgery.

At seven months, Kimble had The Glenn Surgery, which rerouted half his body's bloodflow to bypass his right heart, and go directly to his lungs to get oxygenated. This surgery made all the difference, in Kimble's heart function. He recovered so quickly, and since then, has made leaps and bounds with his developmental abilities.

Kimble just turned 20 months old. He is walking and climbing and spinning and jumping. His level of energy is surprising and welcoming. For any casual observer, Kimble's heart defects aren't apparent. However, he is still in the thick of his diagnosis. He will probably require another surgery next year, but for now we are closely monitoring his heart's growth and adaptability, while rejoicing at how well he is doing.

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