Heart Update

Well, I am tired of seeing my previous, negative/grouchy/not-very-happy-at-all post. So I thought I would write about some happier things...

A couple weeks ago we took Ben to see his cardiologist (heart Dr). We have had regular appointments with this Dr since Ben was born and going to Primary always brings back memories.

Before Ben was born, we were prepared for the worst. I had been told that he might have to have surgery as soon as he was born. I was also told that, even if he didn't have to have surgery right away, he would be VERY sick and we wouldn't be allowed to hold him. One person even told me that we might not even be allowed to see him.

Shortly after Ben was born, Josh and his Grandpa (Lloyd McGee) gave him a priesthood blessing. A few hours later, I got to hold him.

 A couple hours after he was born, Ben coded and they had to perform CPR. The Dr's were concerned that this was what they call a "Tet-Spell" (something that is common with Tetralogy of Fallot). Ben never had another one of these "spells." Dr's and Nurses marveled that he never needed oxygen or caffeine (to keep his heart-rate up).

Just 10 days after his birth, Ben was able to go home.

Ben continued to do well at home.

He slept a lot and would get so exhausted that he would fall asleep during feedings.

When he was 4 months old, he stopped gaining weight. The amount of work it took for him to eat was just too much. So I decided to stop nursing and switched him to formula. Eating from the bottle was much easier for him. It was also easier for me to monitor how much he was eating. This was important because of some medication he was taking.

 When he was 6-months old, he finally weighed enough (6 kilos or ~14 lbs) to have surgery. His surgery was on December 18th.

We were told that he would be in the hospital for 2-3 weeks...Ben went home from the hospital just FIVE DAYS after his surgery.

Here are some pictures for our visit to Primary last week...

 This is Ben having an "ECHO" it's like an ultrasound of his heart. (kind of brings my life full-circle to sit there watching my SON have an ultrasound)

 This is the nurse getting him ready for his EKG...

 He has to hold really still during the test...

 Taking off all the stickers is the worst part...

He stuck the stickers to the bed because he thought it would be funny.

Anyway, the reason for my post, his Dr said that Ben's heart is functioning as well as any other kid his age. He said, "If I didn't know he had had surgery, I would think I was looking at a normal healthy heart." Ben will not need any more surgeries!

This boy is such an amazing person! He is a gift and a blessing, and I wouldn't trade him for the world...even if he does break everything!