Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Ignoring My Flesh

So Eli was brought up to the team on Monday.  EVERYONE is on the same page that something HAS to be done.  His symptoms are too bad at this point to ignore.  The problem is what do they do?  Subclavian Steal Syndrome is just EXTREMELY rare in kids.  I have met one other mom with CHD warrior with Subclavian Steal Syndrome.  However, the cause for her childs was similar to the cause in adults and that was a blocked artery.  So her child's was stented.  The same thing they would attempt in an adult.  Eli's artery doesn't exisist so that is not an option.  But I already explained that in my previous post.  This is about ignoring my flesh.

When it comes to the things Eli deals with medically I can stress out.  Anyone that knows me in person and TRULY knows me has seen it and it is NOT pretty.  When it comes to dealing with doctors?  It's even uglier.  In the last couple of months my hubby has taken the lead on talking to the doctor in between appointments.  This was completely planned by my loving Lord and Savior and I am so very grateful for it.  Since he has been the go between it has been so much easier to fight my flesh.  I'm the type of person that I need to understand things (at least when it comes to Eli's medical stuff, NOT about technology as that is another matter altogether).  If I was still the one calling I would be a basket case right now.  Don't get me wrong I still fight it (a LOT).  But right now when things come up I'm able to say to myself "Jesus has this".  There is a HUGE sense of peace that God is dealing with this.  It's all in HIS timing and NOT mine.

So I have to ignore my flesh and let God work out the calls. 

The dates. 

The decisions.

The outcome.

I think about it. 

I start to get lost in what "might" happen.

But then I remind myself God has this.  HE brought us to Swedish from our former cardiologist office.  HE has the doctor talking with not just the doctors who will do the surgery, but other doctors who work on adults (as this is an "adult thing").  My husband has so lovingly reminded me of the peace he feels that God is leading us in the direction that is best for Eli. 

In the meantime, I will continue to ignore my flesh and let HIM lead.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Call From Cardiology

So my husband came home from work and the first thing he said was "oh good at least your sitting down".  Those are NOT the first words you want to hear when your dear hubby gets home.  He went on to explain that the cardiologist called. 

On Monday July 16, 2012, Eli's cardiologist will take him before the surgery team to discuss his subclavian steal syndrome.  He apparently has been going back and forth with some other doctors and gathering data to present to the team.  There are several options and things to consider.  Of course they always go from the most invasive to the least invasive.  The most invasive is of course is full on heart surgery.  This would be very risky since what they would do is bypass surgery.  They would take an artery from somewhere else and put it in the spot where Eli's artery doesn't exsist.  This is where Eli's original heart problem is though so if his aorta recoarcs then the vessel could tear and kill him almost instantly.  This is EXTREMELY risky and most likely NOT the way they will proceed.  Another option is to tie off the left vertebral artery (the artery that goes to Eli's brain that now that is stealing the oxygenated blood from his brain).  This apparently is normally done during the original surgery, but for some reason they skipped this step (this has been said to us more than once now).  The problem with this is that Eli has to have enough "collateral" vessels in order to supply his arm with oxygen.  Otherwise he would end up loosing his arm.  And the last option is to go in and put basically the opposite of a stent.  Instead of opening it up it would reduce the amount of flow that could go that way. 

In the end the thing that worries me the most is what affect will whatever they choose to do have on his heart?  I honestly 100% believe when they change the pressures of how the blood flows to his brain and arm it WILL change the pressures in his heart and the word "stable" will be on hold for a while. 

I can tell you I'm REALLY glad it's VBS week at our church.  I truly am needing to be around my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ so I can be brought back to His feet through this.  Prayers would be appreciated.