Pictures from Stage 2, the Glenn
Pictures from Stage 3, the Fontan Please note - these pictures, for the most part, are "safe". If you're interested in post-op pictures from the Norwood, please email us at us@babysamson.com for access.
Doctor Visits
Fontan
General Updates
Glenn
Life with Sammy
Norwood
Other HLHS families
Support
Surgery & Recovery
Surprises
Test Results
Worrying
Four years old
Happy holidays!
Home, home, home!
Recovery
Unexpected Open Heart Surgery
Fenestration-closing cath
One year post-Fontan!
NSTAR's Walk for Children's Hospital Boston
3 years old & cardiology visit
Wild Man
Update and Santa
Blue episodes and a cardiology appointment today
Ellie's Fontan
Post-Fontan Cardiology Visit
"You've gotta just let him be."
Sammy's Recovery from the Fontan
Life Post-Fontan
Bump from home
We are home!
Fontanized - Day 6 Update
Day 4 Post-Op 2:30pm Update
Fontanized, Day 4 Post-Op
Bump #2 - Pneumothorax
Little Bump
Fontan Post-Op, Day 2
Extubated!
Fontan Post-Op Update
Fontan Day
Fontan Pre-op Done
Checking in
Update, 2 years old, Fontan date, more
And we're free!
Pre-Fontan cath DONE.
Cath Day
Day 1, Pre-Fontan Cath Prep
Pre-Fontan cath
Twenty-three months: chatterbox, the holidays and the cath
Twenty-two months
Cardiology visit
Eighteen months
Seventeen months
Early Intervention Assessment
Fourteen month update
Miles for Miracles - Together in Heart.
Sedated echo
Look who's one!
One year.
11 1/2 months old!
Almost 10 months old!
Cardiologist Visit
Just about nine months!
Who is this kid, and what did you do with my baby?
Eight months old!
7 months old!
Coming up on 7 months
Six month update
Post-op Checkup & Life post-Glenn
And we're outta here!
Waiting to go home & a few firsts...
Truckin' along
Step-Down!
And the lines are OUT!
Happy updates
Post-Glenn, Day 4
Post-Glenn, Day 3
Post-Glenn, Post-Bronchial Spams, Day 3
Not fun - post-Glenn, night 2
Post-Glenn, Day 2
Post-Glenn, Day 2 - morning
Post-Glenn, Day 1, part 2
Post-Glenn, Day 1
He's out!
In surgery - updates
the wait
The night before the Glenn
Preparing for the Glenn
Update & Surgery
Milk Allergy Fun
Chatty Sammy
Cath Hospitalization
Catheterization
Gasmonster!
Teaching Sammy about the world.
Miles for Miracles
First bath!
Gassy infant prodigy
Rockin' Sammy
Revelations about mamahood
Babymoon, Part 2
Babymoon, Part 1
Home Sweet Home
Discharged!
Rumor has it...
Stepdown, Day 2
We have step down!
Today was pretty mellow
No step-down for you
Time to buy stock in St. Joseph's
One step closer
Extubation!
One step at a time
Done with the closing
Chest Closing
Birth story
Chest Closing & Mama in Triage
Recovery
Out of Surgery
Welcome, Sammy!
Samson Arrives
Labor update
Of due dates and inductions
Baby Grace
Snow baby?
Welcome to the jungle
Getting closer...
37 1/2 week update
Fighting the bad thoughts
Getting bigger - and closer!
31 weeks with Dr. Brown, CHB
31 Week Appt. w/ Dr. Johnson
One big monkey!
Starting to Get Ready
30 Weeks and Full-blown Panic
Silly Pregnant Lady
27 Week Visit
Fears
EFO Shout Out
Weird Pains & an Early Morning Trip to the Hospital
Fetal Echo at Boston Children's Hospital
DiGeorge's - Negative!
Evil Genetics Counselor
Full amnio results
22 weeks and Life Now
Pediatric Cardiologist
Redefining Normal
FISH Results
Embarrassing the poor boy already
The Baby's Name
Post-Amnio
Pre-amnio, Baby痴 name riddle
Reiki energy, and not being alone
Friends and Tarzan
Trying to get through the day
The diagnosis
Trying to stay positive
Pre-Diagnosis
Pre-cath fun done! There were the expected amount of hysterics (Sammy's and mine), but he really was such a brave little man. We were sent first for x-rays, then blood work, then an EKG and an exam. He even did well while we talked over what to expect tomorrow with the Fellow, learning to blow bubbles and playing with his Blues Clues toys.
We were done by 11, which was nice. We had lunch, Sammy got his fill of Disney TV in the cafeteria (what hotel doesn't have Disney and then charges $10 for a 24-minute On-Demand episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?!?!?) and has been napping since 1:30.
We report back tomorrow morning at 7am for his cath. They expect it to take 1-3 hours. Jay and I will be able to be with him until he's sedated and ready to go, and then we will be there when he's waking. Since we're first case, there's a better chance we could go home tomorrow, but I'm not getting my hopes up. It all depends on whether or not they'll need to do work while they're in there.
Our friend Shannon wrote up a little bit to help explain what's going on:
The short answer is the heart cath is being done to determine if Sammy will be a good candidate for the third of the three staged surgeries used to treat (not cure) HLHS. The first ("Norwood") is done shortly after birth and is mandatory; the Glenn (aka bi-directional Glenn, or Hemi-Fontan) is the next phase , and Sammy's had that already as well. The Fontan is the completion phase of the Glenn. If you're short on time, just read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontan_procedure, specifically the "Indications" section. It explains why a cath is done prior to it, as well as why the procedure's used at all.
Your thoughts and prayers and positive energy really do carry us through. Thanks so much!
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Next entry: Cath Day
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This Hope for HLHS site belongs to Erika, Jason & Samson
Hello This is marianna's mom again I am so happy to here all went well today my prayers and thoughts are with you all tommarrow for the cath I'm curious if Sammy has any issues with his pa pressures and size or if he's ever had any feeding issues also how soon are you guys thinking they will want to do fontan after the cath? If you ever want to talk you can call me direct at 763-432-7130 They admitted my little warrior princess today under gi service for intense nutrition therapy. Good luck tommarrow stay strong and give that little man lots and lots of love I will keep checking for updates!
Posted by: gabreal at February 7, 2008 12:39 AM