Surgery and Recovery

Well it was a long 3 weeks to get there, but Addison finally had her surgery yesterday to close her PDA Valve that was open between her heart and lungs. It was a long day but Addison came out okay.


Mom and dad went to spend the night with Addison on Thursday before the big day. She had a peaceful and restful night, which was good before the big day. Staff had actually completed an xray on Addison earlier that day, as she was having some problems with all of her Oxygen and CO2 levels. She would go bradiacardiac (stop breathing and heart stopped) on them quite a few times, which caused them some concern before surgery. What the staff found out was that Addison had grown some since her respiratory and feeding tubes had been inserted, and they were not reaching down far enough in place to give her the maximum effect. Therefore she was not getting enough assistance respiration wise or push on the food to assist with digestion. A little nudge down on both tubes and she came around that night with better gas levels and was able to accept and keep down some breastmilk.


Around 6:30 am on Friday mom and dad returned to wish Addison luck and see her off before her surgery. Mom and dad had a hard time with this, but the doctors and nurses ensured them they would take care of their little girl. At 8:00 am the surgery started and was completed by 9:15 am. Doctor Butters (Pediatric Surgeon) came and advised Mom and Dad that Addison did well and the surgery was a success. She advised that Addison's valve was very large, the same size as her Aorta so it took a little extra time to ensure they closed off the right one. They had entered on Addison's left back side of her ribs into the chest to access the heart and lungs. Addison will now have a small scar, but as Mom says that just adds character.


Mom and Dad got to then go in and see Addison quickly, and she looked very peaceful and resting post op. Addison was still under anthestic and would be receiving morphine for her pain as she came out of it in recovery. Addison had to receive
an IV in one of the veins of her head as they were
having a hard time locating one elsewhere. This is
apparantly quite normal and causes the babies very little pain. Here is a little pic of our resting angel.


Doctors advised that Addison needed her rest, as did an exhausted mom and dad, so they left Addison in the care of the fine medical staff. Addison had a bit of a rough afternoon as predicted. She came out of the anethestic and was not happy to be touched or prodded for her tests. She refused to give the doctors blood (clotted on them) and her CO2 levels were going down. She was definitely telling them that she was not feeling well after her big morning. They allowed her to rest and she came around a bit better last night. She allowed the staff to do some blood testing and managed to get her oxygen and C02 back to some acceptable levels. Doctors said it would be a tough go and I think Addison agrees at this point. Mom and Dad are returning today to give Addison some support and well wishes to feel better.


Thanks everyone for their calls, emails and prayers for Addison's big day. She heard them well and utilized all of the strength that everyone sent her. Thanks for keeping in touch with our blog and checking in on our family.