Update on Hannah's Echo Appointment

Hi Everyone...

Hannah's appointment went well...or at least we think it did...her Drs might not agree. First, they gave her an oral anesthesia. She hadn't eaten in 15+ hours, so she welcomed anything in her mouth...that is until she realized how nasty it tasted. None the less, she took it and started to doze off within 20 minutes or so-I can't tell you how many times I sang Twinkle Twinkle to her! I was putting Craig to sleep!!! We then tried laying her down to start the echo, and she woke up- so they gave her more medicine. She slept great for about 25 minutes while we waited for the tech to come in. Then, just as she walked through the door, Hannah woke up!!! She stayed awake through the entire thing! So much for it being a sedated echo!!

They got most of the images they were hoping for, though not all of them. They were excited to see how well she has been doing too. We have been really lucky that her coloring and O2 saturation have always been really good (she is always in the mid 80s for her O2 if you're interested). They talked about some narrowing that she has around where her aorta goes into her heart, though they don't think it has gotten any worse. They couldn't get clear images of it to be 100% sure, but her O2, pulse, and everything else point to the positive.

After her echo, Hannah had a EKG (which took on the first try...woohoo!!!), and she had blood drawn. The techs couldn't believe that she didn't even flinch for the needle. I guess all of those RSV shots she has been getting paid off for something!!!

Before we left, Hannah had to eat something so the nurses knew that she was awake enough to go home. Apparently her screaming at them didn't prove that enough for them! She ate a whole piece of bread in record time, and sucked down half a sippy cup of water, so off we went.

Our next step is to go back in three months for a check-up. They'll evaluate her progress, and check her weight. If they feel that she is big enough and strong enough, they are going to start the planning stages of her final operation. The last one is called the Fontan, and though it involves her heart, they won't have to physically open her heart for it. If the narrowing continues, which they will determine ahead of time via MRI or Cardiac Cath, then they will need to remove some of the muscle around her heart which will mean that they will need to open her heart after all.

Right now it looks like we'll be looking at surgery closer to Hannah's second birthday...originally we had thought it wouldn't be until closer to her third. After her Fontan, she will need one other procedure, another Cardiac Cath, to plug the hole they are going to leave in her Inferior Vena Cava during the Fontan. The hole is to allow for any extra pressures that might build up while the heart is adjusting to the changes in flow. After that is done, she will be monitored a few times a year, and we'll see what the future holds for her.

So, the news we left with was good...I still think it is hilarious that she was awake for the whole appointment. She acted a bit punch-drunk when she first woke up, which was actually really funny. She has been napping most of the day, and has been eating really well. Right now she is fighting going to bed for the night...oh well. That's my Hannah!!!

By the way, if anyone has any questions, please let me know!!!

(I have been asked many times what exactly Hannah's conditions are...here's the list if you want to Google it...Double outlet right ventricle, Hypoplastic left ventricle, Hypoplastic mitral valve, Atrial Septal Defect, mild subaortic stenosis, and Bilateral Superior Vena Cavas.)