August 6, 2009
Today we arrived and Jenna was doing well, she had a good night and remained quiet and calm. So well, that the nurses were able to clean her up and even put her hair in pigtails with purple ribbon. So cute! She went down for her cath around 12. We took her to the lab in what the nurse practitioner called "Jenna's parade", along with all of her accessories (her iv's, machines, etc.) It was so funny. During her cath we received a new visitor-Miss Nicole who I work with. This was great-it meant so much that she came to see us and she has been spreading the word about Jenna so well. I was just blown away from all of the gifts and donations which she brought to us from family, friends, and even strangers from home. This meant the world to Justin and I. We have been so blessed during the trip and are amazed at how gracious people are. Hugs and kisses to everyone for everything! We talked while she was in the cath, but so sad a couple hours later she went home :( But she has her babies to tend to also, she is a mommy too.
During the cath we were kept updated on her status. She was stable throughout the entire cath and they had a little trouble going through the stent in her right lung, but was also to get blood flow through finally after an hour. The area beyond this though was narrowed off, so they placed two additional stents in. Now her right side flow is looking great they said. They were very pleased. We will be returning in 2-3 months for additional work on her left side though, because this area is still needing work. We spoke with her cardiologist and surgeon about the situation at this point. They feel that the best option for her at this point is to go back in and "punch" a 4-5 mm hole in the patch he just placed. We knew that this was possible and were prepared. He said that her pressures are the same on the left and right still, and will remain this way even when he placed the hole in because this is what she was prior to surgery. He is placing the hole so that we can get Jenna home and on the road to recovery. He is afraid that if he keeps the hole, because of how her pressures have been as she is sedated, that when she becomes active, then this could be damaging to her heart. Eventually this would cause right side heart failure, not good. The risks of opening is that down the line her good vessels may be damaged permanently. But he feels that making the hole is the best choice, because he wants her to be able to live a life right now. He said he is sorry for us having to take a step back, but this was possible to happen, but we did not expect this soon. Prior to surgery, he was on the fence about the choice of closing and thought that her heart could handle it. He would like to send her home on a more aggressive blood thinner such as Lovenox or Plavix just because of all the vessel work that she has had done recently. He hopes to have her extubated early next week if she can tolerate it, and maybe off the unit by the end of the week. We will see. We just want her to move forward at this point. We do not want her to have to endure another open heart surgery at this point, but this is best. He hopes that he does not have to place her on the bypass machine again during the surgery if possible. He said that he does not want to wait to do the surgery and scheduled it for Friday am at 7:30. He feels that this is best, because she will develop new scar tissue over time and this is less painful for her incision and it will heal better. He feels that the surgery should last only 3 hours. So, another set of big news today. We had more visitors this evening-Aunt Missy and Stacey and Meme. This was nice and are happy that they are here for support.
So, we will keep everyone posted on her status tomorrow. We hope that she comes through well and ask that everyone pray hard for her. We know she is tough but she needs everyone right now. We appreciate all everyone has done and thank everyone for everything at this point-we could not ask for a better support system. We love everyone. We will try to update as things happen tomorrow. Justin and I ask to that you think and pray for us, as this is another difficult step in her process. Thank you again so much.
Love, Jenny, Justin and Jenna
