Thursday, January 20, 2011

Update on Tyler's heart

Okay everyone, I have an update. And no matter how you slice it, it’s not pretty. We’d been told that if “something comes up” they’d call us. We thought that really meant if something comes up. So the 14th rolls around and no phone call so when we walked our happy butts into the office I was fully expecting to be told, “His heart is fine. It’s just naturally slow because he’s young and in shape” so when the doctor started talking I just about had a melt down. So apparently there is one of three things wrong with Tyler’s heart:
1. The right two chambers in his heart are “larger than we’d expect them to be” which could indicate that either his heart wasn’t fully developed or he has a degenerative heart condition that would have holes on the left two chambers in his heart making the right side have to work harder, therefore the muscle gets larger. On Monday Tyler had another echocardiogram this time with saline to see if bubbles make it from one side of the heart to the other. If that is the case, it will require surgery. If there is enough issue around the holes and the holes are small enough, they can go in through a vein in his groin area, if not, it would be a full on open heart surgery to repair the holes with a patch.
Option 2: while on the heart monitor Tyler’s heart stopped for almost two seconds and he wasn’t aware of it. If his heart isn’t compensating for holes, then they will put Tyler on another monitor, this time for 2 to 4 weeks to see how often and for how long his heart stops. This will lead to a pacemaker.
And finally 3. While we were talking to the doctor he’d said that infections in any organ could mess up other organs. I’d been talking to my mother-in-law and she’d reminded me that while Tyler was serving his mission in Brazil he’d gotten parasites. I’d mentioned that to the doctor and he asked a bunch of questions and then told him to go to the lab to be tested for Chagas disease. Now this disease is very rare in the United States, but it’s not rare at all in Brazil. The worst news is that it leads to heart failure, is incurable and the medicine out there that can prevent the symptoms work best in the acute stage, which would have been while he was in Brazil. I’ve been doing some research and this particular disease has a lot of similarities to Tyler’s case including the right side of the heart being larger.
I never thought I would actually be hoping for heart surgery, but that’s the only thing that isn’t permanent/or can’t be fixed at all. Our next follow up is on the 27th. Wish us luck. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.

4 comments:

  1. oh goodness. I read your blog, but I'm normally too lazy to comment, but I decided this was no time to be lazy. Tyler and you all will be in our prayers. Let's pray for option #1!

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  2. Oh my heavens! I will definitely be praying for you and Tyler. That is a TON to digest at once; especially when you weren't expecting any bad news at all! Just remember that the Lord's in control and He has a plan. You've just got to be patient to see what it is. Love you girl!

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  3. Thank you Anna and Myaela. I appreciate knowing that people actually read the blog. ;) thank you both for your prayers and support.

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  4. Hey Chiquita!

    Collin and I are thinking about you guys, and I ALWAYS read your blog. So, remember that even if you think people aren't reading it... I AM. Also, I am sorry that this heavy burden has been placed on your little family. There's not much I can say but that we're thinking of you, and we pray for the best for you guys. We love you, and keep all of us informed so that we can keep praying and helping in whatever ways that we can.

    Joy

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