upcoming cath

In two weeks, we'll be heading back over to Seattle for Maddie's 'pre-fontan' heart catheterization. This will be the 6th time she's had to undergo this type of procedure, hopefully this cath's purpose will be more investigative rather than interventional. Doctors will be checking her heart's pressures, the valves, chambers, and getting an overall look at her heart's function to determine whether she's ready for the last surgery, the Fontan. If she needs a tune-up while they're in there, they'll intervene. She's currently weighing in at 31 lbs. which is around 14 kilos...the goal for surgery is 15 kilos, so we're getting close. When I talked to the nurse the other day after Maddie got into her baby asprin bottle (all was ok though) she mentioned that the team of cardiologists & surgeons will meet on her case the following Monday after the cath. Together, these 26 doctors will come up with a plan on Maddie's surgery and then we'll get the call to schedule it. We're told that we'll get a say in this one, which is much different than her past two surgeries, they were both rushed and necessary right then. This makes going into the Fontan much different for us. We've never really had a choice on when is the best time for Maddie and for our family.

Are we ready? In some ways, yes--getting passed this last big hurdle will be nice. It will feel like we can get on with life. Our daughter won't be so blue and out of breath all of the time. Her oxygen saturations will hopefully be in the 90's versus the 70's that they're in now. I'm anxious to see the "new Maddie" after her Fontan. She will be healthy going into surgery, which is a big plus. But in other ways, how do you prepare to have your child cut on again? It's open heart surgery, she'll be on heart-lung bypass, she'll have a stay in the CICU (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit), she'll be on a ventilator, she'll have many life-saving drugs pumped into her little body, and there will be several tubes and wires. It's simply...scary.

But I do believe that the good this surgery can bring far out-weighs the risks and fears it brings. If all goes as we plan, Maddie will have the chance to grow up feeling well, not huffing, puffing and coughing like she does now. Not having to climb into my lap several times a day, remarking "I tidered, hode me". She will run more, play more, jump more, climb the stairs more throughout the day, instead of wanting to be carried around and held. She will gain more independence and growth after this final surgery. Hopefully, she's young enough that she won't remember it later. This is what I will focus on. And that the Fontan will finally be behind us.