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
Not going to make this its own post, and I thought it deserved to be at the top and not the bottom, so...
We are on the floor. Sammy spiked a bit of a fever shortly after we got over here (38°C), but was able to play a bit in the playroom. He was sitting up, playing with the toys and talking like Sammy. He wiped out after about 15 minutes, came back to our (private!) room (on the FLOOR!), ate some jello, threw up a bit and is now half asleep and watching Little Einsteins.
Now for the original post from today:
2:30 pm update
1. And there was poop! And more poop! He's still unhappy and fussy, but he did just have open-heart surgery 5 days ago.
2. He's off oxygen completely. Holding his sats at 82. Took the cannula away - all that remains are the two circle stickers on his cheeks that were holding the cannula in.
3. Got the clearance to get the pigtail and remaining chest tube removed. Should happen soon.
4. IV in his foot has been removed. He's wearing socks!
This leaves the tubes (which are going shortly) and an IV in his hand. So in two hours or so - when we could be on our way to the FLOOR - he will only have an IV in his hand.
Did you catch that? On our way TO THE FLOOR? Where he will be decked out in a tie-dye shirt, sweats and his slippers? And hopefully playing in the playroom and going for a walk in the wagon outside?
Sure, I just jinxed us, but the orders are in and if the chest tube removal goes well, off we go!
Here's the checklist to get us home: stable blood pressure (has, but needs to maintain). Eating and drinking regularly. Clear chest xrays (has, but needs to maintain). Good oxygen levels (has, but needs to maintain). Good, stable, non-arrhythmic sinus rhythm (again, has, but needs to maintain). No infections (doesn't have and hopefully won't!). They just want to see that he's well and nothing new crops up.
Not dancing in the halls yet, but definitely starting to breathe a little easier. Whew.
Previous entry :Fontanized, Day 4 Post-Op
Next entry: Fontanized - Day 6 Update
Oh, I love reading good news. Glad to hear that Sammy's doing well; sending lots of positive "going to the floor" vibes your way. Princess and Max are waiting for Sammy!
Posted by: Deb at May 25, 2008 3:15 PMYay! Congratulations on the floor! And all the lines and tubes coming out. Hoping you guys are on your way home soon!
Heart Hugs,
Andrea
Yay! Praying you can make it one step closer to home today. We expect pics from The Floor ;)
-Alison (Abby's mom)
Posted by: Alison (Abby's mom) at May 25, 2008 3:35 PMWhat wonderful news!! I have been keeping my husband and little Annalee updated almost hourly :) So excited for Sammy - and you too! Am crossing fingers and thinking good thoughts.
Molly, Lee & Annalee
What wonderful news!! I have been keeping my husband and little Annalee updated almost hourly :) So excited for Sammy - and you too! Am crossing fingers and thinking good thoughts.
Molly, Lee & Annalee (COA)
AWESOME!!! Keep it up Sammy!! (And keep hanging in there mama!) :)
Posted by: Jennifer at May 25, 2008 4:13 PMHooray! It made me so happy to check Sammy's website and see this entry! :)
Posted by: Krista at May 25, 2008 5:34 PMI am SOOOO happy. I have followed your blogs since 2001 and you deserve the most happiness and good luck! Sammy and his family are troopers!
Posted by: Cathy at May 25, 2008 5:47 PMWoo hoo! Can't wait to see you all tomorrow! xoxox Alicen, Chris & Ellie
Posted by: Alicen at May 25, 2008 6:20 PMPosting on the update :) So good to hear you're on the floor! I'll bet being able to be a little mobile will do wonders for his mood and ability to keep getting through this!
Posted by: Jennifer at May 25, 2008 8:38 PMYeah! One BIG step closer to home! Great news!
Posted by: Amy at May 25, 2008 8:48 PMErika,
Brooks & I have been keeping up with Sammy's status and we are so happy to hear that he's doing well! We are continuing to pray for y'all!
Bethany
That's fabulous news!! So glad to hear it.
Posted by: Christine at May 25, 2008 11:02 PMThat's FABULOUS news!! :) So happy for you all!
Posted by: Brenda at May 25, 2008 11:28 PMYay!! You're on the floor! Whoo-hoo! Go Sammy and Jay and Erika!
Love you all!
Shari
Yay!! You're on the floor! Whoo-hoo! Go Sammy and Jay and Erika!
Love you all!
Shari
Way to go Sammy, you're a little trooper mate and we're all happy that things are progressing well. Keep up your recovery champ. Our prayers and thoughts with you and your Mum and Dad.
Geoff & Donna Stein
NSW Australia
more great news!!! Wooooo-hooo!! : )
Posted by: jessie at May 26, 2008 8:54 AMSo happy to see this today...thinking of you guys.
Posted by: Allie at May 26, 2008 1:17 PMI'm SO glad for you guys. Yay, Sammy. you'll all be home in NO time. WooHOO!
Posted by: Kathryn at May 26, 2008 1:26 PMGreat job Sammy!!! I'm so glad that you are on the floor! Keep up the good work!
Millie and Colin
Thinking of you all! Sammy is such a little trooper.
Love, Daric's Family
Posted by: Daric's Family at May 27, 2008 9:42 AM(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
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This Hope for HLHS site belongs to Erika, Jason & Samson
* A W E S O M E * Doing a little celebratory dance, though very little so as not to jinx anything.
Posted by: Shannon at May 25, 2008 2:57 PM