Feb PCMC vist x 2

Yesterday we took Merr and Soph to Primary's for checkups.

Merrick's heart function is virtually unchanged when  pre and post surgery functions are compared. There is a possibility that the repair will still buy him some time before his next surgery. We are still hoping for a few years, but we just don’t know right now. At this point only time will tell. We go back in August for more ultrasounds and evaluations. We then should hopefully have a better idea of what will happen next and when. This trip, the poor kid had to be catheterized and have his bladder filled to check and see if he is having back pains from his kidney function. There was some reflux from the bladder back to the kidneys that can cause urinary track infections but the nephrologist didn't seem to think that his back pain was being caused by any type of function of his kidneys/bladder. So we have no answers for whats causing him terrible back pain at this point.

Sophia had a heart check up too. She had us worried because our pediatrician was thinking that her heart was sounding different. Fortunately our cardiologist at Primary's thinks that she is doing fine and that there is no change in her heart. She is good for another year.

It's kind of funny when I have to explain health history's to every new doctor that we meet with. They are all amazed that in one family a father and two children all have aortic stenosis. My cardiologist has been around for probably more years than I've been alive and he has never even heard of such an occurrence. I guess we drew the winning lotto numbers for heart defects.

So, here we go again. We continue on trying to live our lives for the next 6 months all the while agonizing over our situation. Even with his burden of doctor’s visits, tests and surgeries, Merrick is still just a happy little boy. At the tender age of 2, he is an inspiration to me. He goes through so much and comes out of it as if nothing has happened. My hope for him is that he isn’t forced to give up his childhood because of his health. It is inevitable that the innocence and joy of what it means to be a child is ultimately lost to the realities and pains of adulthood. I just don’t want him to experience that loss prematurely. I wish I had Merrick’s strength and cheer so that I could remember what it means to truly live, as I once did, as a child and without constant worry.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.  We couldn't make it through this life of ours without you.  

Quick Update

I just love that picture of Sophia.  I had to included it.  It's a copy of a copy of a copy and it's a little grainy because of that but I just love it.

Gavin started basketball this January.  He really likes it.  I had to go out and find a basketball hoop for us to play on.  Fortunately the family had one laying around so we grabbed it and fixed it up a bit and it works great.

I would have posted a picture of Bear too but he is just too elusive for photographs.  You have to catch him off guard to get a usable picture of him.  I don't recall if I posted about his newest problem and I'm too lazy to go back and look so I'll sum it up here.  He had an ultra sound of kidneys after he had been complaining of back pain.  It turns out that he has one kidney that is about 15% smaller than the other but the staph infection was gone so that was good.  He has been referred to Primary Children's AGAIN for more tests.  I think its about time that I ask for a wing to be dedicated to our family.  Andrea took the phone call from Primary's about getting him checked in.  They have us scared right now because they said that we have to meet with a doctor over at the U of U hospital in the transplant department.  I'm sure it's just where the doctor is based out of but nonetheless its scary to be told that's where we will be meeting him.

So towards the end of the month is when we find out more about Merrick and Sophia's health problems.  Wish us luck, pray for us, remove the voodoo pins whatever you can to help out would be much appreciated.  Thanks.

Good Riddance 2009

 


Good Riddance 2009

One totaled vehicle by a pregnant wife, $47,500.

One premature little baby girl via emergency C-section with a collapsed lung in the NICU, $62,000+.

One open heart surgery on a 2 ½ year old, $70,000+ and counting.

Being a husband and father, priceless. 

I for one am glad 2009 is over and by the sounds of it I’m not alone.  I’m not really the type that puts much emphasis on dates or years but this calendar year has been one catastrophe after another; I’m glad to see it go. 

We started the year off with Andrea totaling our car while she was 8 months pregnant.  Four days thereafter Sophia was born.  She ended up in the NICU because she was premature.  So premature that one of her lungs collapsed from being underdeveloped and overworked.  Needless to say that was a very difficult period. 

Then Merrick had his well documented surgery (*) over the Thanksgiving holiday.

And finally to send the year out with a bang, I start having chest pains, of which of course I told no one about. When I called for an appointment to see my cardiologist they tell me he’s booked until February.  I explain my situation and they manage to squeeze me in for a stress echo on Dec. 29^th.  I wanted to keep this my little secret because I didn’t want Andrea anymore stressed out that she has already been.  If it wasn’t for McKay Dee calling the house to preregister me, then no one would ever have known about it.  Thanks McKay Dee for that one; you added a little more stress to Andrea’s holidays that I was trying to avoid.  Then, on Christmas Eve while playing hockey early in the morning, as we do each year, I separate my shoulder.  It was a good one too; the ER feared I needed surgery to repair a possible torn rotator cuff.  The 29^th rolls around and I have to go run on a treadmill for my stress echo.  Needless to say that didn’t happen.  I did get a regular echo done and everything appears to be ok for now.  So my heart condition remains “moderate-severe” and I’m good for another year.  The following day I went to see the orthopedic surgeon to see about my shoulder.  Fortunately it seems I have a normal grade 2 shoulder separation that will only require time to heal. 

It seems like we may be starting off 2010 the way we ended 2009.  Gavin now has walking pneumonia and is pretty sick.  It just seems like everyone is always sick and all our finances go towards outrageous doctors bills.  I got a $1600 ER visit for my shoulder.  I spent a grand total of maybe 20 minutes with either a tech, RN, or Dr.  Most of that time was spent taking a few x-rays.  The rest of the time I was just sitting there wasting time.  It basically cost $1600 bucks for an arm sling and some x-rays.  Ya that sounds about right.  Now Merrick has been complaining that his back hurts.  We just found out that it appears to be a staph infection in his kidneys.  He will go in for an ultrasound of his kidneys in a week or so (I forget the date).

Our luck had better change or I’m going to go insane.  Oh yes, I almost forgot (again) that in the mist of all this turmoil Gavin had his first basketball practice, and his idiot of a father couldn’t even remember to take a picture.  I think I’m losing my mind.  Thanks again everyone for all your support, without it we would be lost.