back to the cath lab

This past week has been we have been in a holding pattern.  The doctors wanted to go back to the cath lab to get information about Lucy's lung and heart pressures before making any decisions about going back to the operating room to fenestrate her Fontan.  We were placed on the cath lab schedule for last Friday and then quickly moved to Monday (today).  Which meant this weekend was full of trying to have fun.  Friday Aunt Kate came to visit and brought tons of neat stuff to play with, like a barbie head to do hair, pie face and plenty of books.  Lucy, however, played with the jelly beans and Tupperware.  Saturday Dr. Patel brought us the Frozen match game.  We played that all day and Lucy won every game.  Sunday we were able to make it outside after 17 long days in bed #2.  Lucy loves playing in water, so we brought a basin of water for her to splash her.  Her amazing nurse Ashley bought her some water toys to help with the fun.  I can't put into words how amazing the staff at Advocate Children's is.  They have truly gone above and beyond to make Lucy's hospital stay the best it can be.

And then we made her put on her hat and sunglasses and the fun was over. 

This morning we were prepared for the cath lab.  She was to be third case.  When I arrived this morning I found out third case was at 12 pm, which meant, for four long hours, I would need to keep Lucy occupied so that she didn't notice she wasn't drinking or eating.  For catherization procedures, they require you to be NPO for six hours.  Luckily, we were moved up to second case and she was taken to the lab around 10 am.  Before we packed her up to walk down, Dr Patel came in to speak with me.  Over the weekend he had reviewed pictures from her previous cath and from surgery.  He noticed that there was some narrowing her left pulmonary artery.  He told me that during the cath, they are going to try to balloon and(or) stent the artery.  If you remember, since all her blood flows passively, it will try to take the path of least resistance.  Since the left pulmonary artery is smaller, most of the blood flow is going to the right pulmonary artery and lung.  When that pressure gets to high, it will flow to the left (or any other path of lesser resistance).  In ballooning the left artery, we hope that this will lower her lung pressures all together which in turn would help with the drainage.  I believe this is our last ditch effort to avoid surgery.  They will probably give her a couple of days to see if the adjustment to the left pulmonary artery improves her drainage.  If it continues to drain at this capacity, our only option left would be to fenestrate.

For our prayer warriors, we ask that you specifically pray for the ballooning of her left pulmonary artery to help with any pressure issues she is having and that this small procedure have a high impact on slowing or stopping the drainage.

As always, we could not do this without your support.  Whether you are near or far, we are on this journey together.