Heart Jewerly

Sweet Angel Samantha right after heart surgery.



Even in the Intensive Care Unit she lights up a room with her smiles!


Still sleepy from sugery, but she would not miss an episode of Sponge Bob.

I want to start by saying that Samantha is such a good girl and doing great. We are waiting to be discharged right now. She is such a strong girl and after everything she went through she never stopped smiling.

She had the first surgery of the day which made it easy for her since she didn't realize that she was fasting. We were told MANY times that she was stingy and didn't want to give up a vein. It took them an hour to find a good one. So, she is covered from head to toe with bruises from the many failed attempts. Of all the places, it finally worked in her left thumb (how weird is that). The sad thing is that the left thumb is her favorite to suck, and she was very frustrated by the inconvenience. Apparently, she didn't want to share her arteries either. So, they had to use arteries in both groins to conduct the surgery.

During surgery they did a test to see how bad her back flow of blood was. A normal blood flow is 1:1 ratio (half to the lungs and half to the rest of the body). Her ratio was greater than 4:1. They couldn't measure it further. The device (plug) was placed in the hole. However, it is not in a "perfect" place. It is pushed up against her aorta. It is causing a 4 mm indent. The doctors decided that removing and replacing would be to high a risk of damage and decided to leave it there. They took chest x rays and it was still in the same place.

She will continue to see the cardiology surgeon (while doubling with the cardiologist) for the next six months. She will need to continue being monitored by a cardiologist for the next several years. She needs to carry a card in her wallet (Coach purse) that talks about her new heart bling bling.

Even to the naked ear we can hear a difference. She has not been panting or sweating for her bottles any more. I am so glad that her tiny (yet big in spirit) heart is better.

She is doing great and we are ready to head home to see her sisters. Thank you for every one's prayers and support. Thank you Debbie, Zenda, Martha, Diedra, Sarah, Nancy, Lynne and the rest of the crew that made this happen smoothly. We all appreciate your help!