Daughter

Joined : 06 Apr 2007 Posts : 1002

Just got home from the hospital where my wife & daughter are. It's been a long night.

Arabella has been sick since last night - vomiting - we figgered it was the flu. Today, ok all morning - but started up again around noon. Then come the dry heaves. . . and continue. . . and continue.

We took her to the ER - to see why this 'flu' wasn't getting better and how could they help.

The ER doc notices a fairly low heart rate. . . they do an ekg and find its around 50 - should be more like 120. . 130.

After an abulance ride to the children's hospital (where she had the original surgery) we find that she has a 'bad lead'. The wire from the pace maker to her heart is 'bad'. Not acting as it should.

So - she is going to have open heart surgery tomorrow to either move the lead (due to being on scar tissue) or replace it (bad).

Prayers certain appreciated.

She is better - and now they have corrected the slow beat problem - but at the higher voltage the pace would wear out in <6 months.

Wow - this is pretty rambling.

Sleep time.

Thanks......
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_Wes
FretlessBassist
SL on CD Baby

Play it LOUD!! Age : 51 Joined : 06 Jan 2007 Posts : 11093

Praying Wes. Praying

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Mission Of One Age : 38 Joined : 03 Jan 2007 Posts : 4928

You and your daughter have my prayers.
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Subject: Re: Daughter Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:37 am

Praying

Age : 32 Joined : 20 Jun 2007 Posts : 379

You are in mine as well, my brother.
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Man in Morph Age : 40 Joined : 08 Apr 2007 Posts : 7764

Praying for your whole family Wes my friend. Keep us updated.

Subject: Re: Daughter Fri Jun 22, 2007 11:00 am

scary...

will pray!
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Joined : 06 Apr 2007 Posts : 1002

Thanks all. . . here's the complete story - so far - by way of an update.

Prayers certainly appreciated!!!!

Anyway - last Wed, she got what we thought was the flu - throwing up, looking sickly, etc. My wife immediately calls the doc, and they tell us- this all seems very flu-like - we'll treat it that way. Continue pushing fluids, etc. So we do. The next morning, lots of nursing for her (with mom - not me) and she holds it all down until early afternoon. Then the floodgates open. She just about puked up her shoes, and the dry heaves are horrible. Again with the doc, and we decide - heck with it - we're going in. Thinking 'flu' - still - we go to our local hosp - instead of the 'heart' hospital - to save us a 30 minute drive. Once in the ER - she's pretty lethargic, and the nurses are having a hard time getting her pulse - they all count it around 50. Which is too low. So I check - yup - pace maker issue. They get an IV started (after 5!!!! sticks) and my wife & her get in the ambulance to go to the 'heart' hospital, OSF. We get in & they get her all stickered up - the monitor stickers on her chest - and sure enough, her rythym is coming in around 40 - 50. Turns out this is her underlying (her own heart) rythym - which is fantastic - had she not had that . . . well, its just darn good she did have that.

What they discover is that the pace isn't 'capturing' - or the signal is going from the pace - but her heart is not beating in response. Not good. She is dual chambered - so this is one of two leads having the issue. Immediately the doc (an on call - not our cardiologist) says it will have to be corrected surgically - and in the next couple of days. Yikes, but ok. At least its the materials and not her heart. So they crank up the volts on the pace, and all is well again. Puking stops within a couple hour - color returns - and she's doing well.
Our cardio comes the next day, and says - let's try a course of steriods first - b/c it really seems like the issue - with non-capture - may be due to scar tissue on the heart from the lead - rather than the lead itself. Ok - no surgery - way cool - if that's ok. May mean a shorter life span on the generator (the pace 'body' - where the battery is - > all one unit) but it will be ok for her. And it won't hurt her at all.

Ok.....

So, all goes well again - until we start getting wierd readings on the monitor after a day of steriods. Not bad - heart rate doesn't drop - but just - 'wierd' - out of the ordinary. So doc comes in (around 9pm - on the weekend. . . we got us a good'n!) and runs his tests with the laptop that 'hooks up' to the pace maker (all wireless. Technology is indeed very cool). Well, good news - she's doing better. However, it appears the lead is indeed bad - and needs to be replaced. Surgery - most likely.

He said he'd talk to some peers, and get some advice and let us know. He came in this morning, and all agreed - can't program (the pace) around a bad lead. Must change. Soon.

So while it's not 'urgent' in the sense that its a NOW thing - its a 'this-week' thing. So as soon as they can get her in (maybe tues at this point) she's having her 3rd open heart to replace her ventricular pace maker lead to her heart.

Mom and I are ok, but tired - it's draining being with a bunch of sick folks, nurses & docs - and the food ain't great. It's tough shuffling the kids around - but everyone has been very helpful. And not much computer time on the ward. But we're ok. And we know Arabella is going to be fine. She's a bit grumpy (can't blame her a bit) but doing well. They let her walk around, and ride in the little wagons - so all is well.
I'll post details as I have them & time.

Not sure I'll be at our 2 gigs this week - Cornerstone - or not. Most likely not the Wednesday one - maybe - maybe the sat.

I'll keep you updated as I know it. . .and can.

Thanks all!
_________________
_Wes
FretlessBassist
SL on CD Baby

Play it LOUD!! Age : 51 Joined : 06 Jan 2007 Posts : 11093

Thanks for the update Wes.

Praying

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"The 'farce' is strong with Obama-Wan." words of Scourge.

One of the twins: I'm the one who likes it all....

Age : 48 Joined : 06 Apr 2007 Posts : 3445

Age : 33 Joined : 06 Apr 2007 Posts : 4825

Wes, I am a few days late on this one, but the wife and I will be prayingon this. I know all to well all the stresses associated with this type of situation......
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Joined : 06 Apr 2007 Posts : 1002

Thanks everyone - we REALLY appreciate it. It means more than I can express in words. Chris - thank. Appreciate that as well.

The surgery is in the am - 7:30.....I'll do my best to update.

Thanks! Y'all rock!

Smile

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_Wes
FretlessBassist
SL on CD Baby

Age : 32 Joined : 20 Jun 2007 Posts : 379

Hey man, I hope the surgery goes well. I'm praying for you brother.

And while this is hardly the time...I wanted to let ya know the review of the StrangeLand demo is now up on our site.

Take care and I hope all goes well. Smile

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Joined : 06 Apr 2007 Posts : 1002

Thanks Snowy! Smile

Surgery did indeed go well.... she's resting & wife is too (difficult night - in the waiting room. . . yikes).

Thanks!!!
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_Wes
FretlessBassist
SL on CD Baby

Subject: Re: Daughter Wed Jun 27, 2007 1:21 pm

Good to hear that the surgery went well,Wes

Age : 32 Joined : 20 Jun 2007 Posts : 379

Good to hear all is going well! Smile

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News for real conservatives-The American Conservative magazine.

www.amconmag.com

I proudly lead the Catholic conservative metalhead revolution!

moldy oldie Age : 32 Joined : 25 Dec 2006 Posts : 1759

Wow, I'd be a wreck. Sorry I'm late on this, but I'm glad things are looking up.
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Joined : 06 Apr 2007 Posts : 1002

NP Rex - thanks for that.

To update - she is doing fantabulous! Doc called, and told us the 'white goo' on her lead was sterile - not infection. Since the lead was changed over to the opposite side of her heart from where it was - heart function is actually better - so this may have been a blessing in disguise! Praise God!

Thanks all for the prayers & words of encouragement. 3 heart surgeries in 9 months - what a fighter!!
Smile

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_Wes
FretlessBassist
SL on CD Baby

Age : 33 Joined : 06 Apr 2007 Posts : 4825

AWesome to hear Wes!!!! Always good to have better than expected results show up

Praying for a speedy recovery frmo surgery for the tyke, and that you all recover quickly from the stress of the situation......
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Subject: Re: Daughter Fri Jun 29, 2007 2:12 pm

Good to hear,man