Cheeks Magee is getting her heart fixed!

Let me start off by saying that this post will only be of interest to those of you who REALLY care about what's going on with Noah. It's going to be long-winded, so if you're just mildly interested, you may wanna turn back now! :)

When Noah was born and our pediatrician came to the hospital to do her newborn screening, he noticed that she had a mild heart murmur. We ended up staying at the hospital for almost 4 days while she was poked and prodded by various specialists. The verdict? Noah has what is known as a VSD (or Ventricular Septal Defect). A VSD is basically an opening (or hole) in the wall (septum) that separates the two ventricles in the heart. VSDs are actually quite common in newborns, so we were told that there was a good chance it would close up on its own with no medical intervention (as is the case with most babies). We began seeing a pediatric cardiologist regularly so he could monitor the size of the hole. Upon further investigation, he discovered that Noah's VSD was highly abnormal. While it was a VERY tiny hole, it was positioned directly beneath the aortic valve instead of further down on the septum. As you can see in the diagram, a normal VSD can be quite large and is usually somewhere in the middle of the septum.

Because Noah wasn't experiencing any side effects, the doctor concluded that we could take a "wait and see" approach, with annual visits to the cardiologist being all that was necessary. Since the hole was so tiny, we were very hopeful that it would close on it's own....

Fast forward to Noah's 2nd birthday and it was time for her annual cardiology appointment. The echocardiogram revealed that the hole was still there and was now affecting the performance of the aortic valve due to their close proximity. We were told that surgery was our only option and that, based on the surgeon's recommendations, it could happen any time in the next two years. If we were to wait longer than that, the VSD could cause significant damage to the valve which would require a much more complicated surgery. So off we went to meet with the surgeon! Based on Noah's size (let's face it, she's huge), the surgeon said we could do the procedure now! I was so happy to hear that...I'm not very good at waiting for things. I can't imagine having that cloud looming over my head for months and months! We went ahead and scheduled the surgery for December 20th of this year. *Side note: The surgeon informed us that Noah's particular type of VSD is almost unheard of in the caucasian population. It is most commonly found in.....ASIANS! Maybe we need to check our family tree?!

As far as heart surgeries go, this one is fairly simple. However, it's also pretty gruesome. Many VSDs can be closed by inserting a probe/tiny tools up through the patient's leg/groin area. Due to the unusual location of Noah's VSD, that is sadly not an option for us. The procedure will go something like this....

First they will put her to sleep and insert a breathing tube as well as a a tiny probe that will ultrasound her heart. Next they will make a 3-4 inch incision in her chest, cutting through the skin, muscle, and eventually her sternum. Then they will "put her heart to sleep"...those were the surgeon's words so I'm thinking that's just a nicer way of saying "stop her heart" (but I could be wrong). A tiny patch will be sewn into the hole and they'll close her back up. The whole process should take about an hour. Also, because she is so young, it is likely that she will need a blood transfusion. After surgery, we will spend about a week in Intensive Care (the surgery is at Phoenix Children's Hospital). Christmas in the hospital sure will be an interesting experience! Once she is released, I will have to keep from immersing her in water for 6 weeks. So basically, she's gonna stink for a while. Hahaha! I'm sure I'll get creative. :)

The Friday before the surgery we will go to the hospital to do pre-surgery testing (x-rays, EKG, blood work, etc.) We've been told that if Noah even has so much as a sniffle, they will have to re-schedule her surgery. So, from now until then, we are basically hermits. No church (the nursery is a breeding ground for cold/flu), parties, or contact with kids (other than Ike). Luckily, the surgery is scheduled over Christmas break, so my entire family will be home and available to help us with Ike. Poor little guy won't get to spend his first Christmas with us...I'm sure he'll be scarred for life. ;)

I know that December 20th will probably be the scariest day of my life. But, surprisingly, I'm pretty much at peace about it. My time at PCH has taught me that we are VERY blessed. Noah does not have cancer. She doesn't have a debilitating disease or malformation. Her brain functions properly. Her problem is fixable. She will be a normal child with no limitations in life. Our surgeon said that the risk of complications from this procedure is ONE PERCENT. Praise God that this is the 21st century and we live in this wonderful country! But you know, even if complications do arise, that doesn't change who God is. Noah is His. We're just her earthly babysitters...and we're so thankful for that.

I'm planning on keeping everyone updated during and after her surgery through facebook and will also be tweeting photos and info on Noah's twitter feed (@CheeksMagee). Until then, we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday this year...MERRY CHRISTMAS!