Cardiac Follow-up Appointment

Hard to believe, but Koal is 7 weeks old today! WOW…as much as we’ve been through in the past 7 weeks, time sure has flown!  Our little man is doing well is growing and changing daily.  He’s up to 11 lbs now and is getting longer (though I can’t remember the exact measurement from this morning’s appointment!) and growing like he should. We had our first follow up visit with our cardiologist, Dr. shah, at Children’s Mercy today.  They preformed an echocardiogram and the doc says things look good with Koal’s shunt and they don’t see anything unusual or different from before.  His oxygen levels are great and he said he was pleased with his growth and status thus far. What a huge praise that everything looks great following his surgery last month and that he’s growing and doing well as they expected!

We spent a very long time with Dr. shah this morning discussing the options for Koal’s future surgeries and heart “repair” possibilities.  It is amazing what surgeons can do to help ‘fix’ little hearts in our day and age!  Listening to the options was a bit overwhelming, however, and brought back the not-so-far removed familiar feelings of concern, apprehension and questions about the unknowns of our future. At this point there are 3 options for surgical repair on Koal’s little heart.  Two are considered 4 chamber repairs, more complicated and difficult series of surgeries to make Koal’s heart return to a 4 chambered organ. The 3^rd option is a simpler 3 chamber repair with more long-term surgeries needed.  All three options have long lists of pros and cons and at this point there is no clear direction for what would be best for our little guy.  Our cardiologist plans to send Koalton’s information to a number of hospitals and surgeons around the country for consultation, as well as discussing the options with the surgical team at Children’s Mercy before we move forward in any way on decision making.  The reality is, Koal’s condition is so unusual and complex that it, and therefore some of the surgical options, are out of the realm of expertise for even the doctors at Children’s Mercy.  There is a good chance we will have to travel to another part of the country to have more surgeries, depending on what everyone thinks is best. AND, Unfortunately, even if the decided upon future surgeries are initially HUGE successes, the long-term effects and life expectancies are unknown.

Please pray for the doctors and surgeons involved in the process of working with us to determine the best options for Koalton’s future. Pray for guidance and wisdom, for clarity and understanding as they weigh pros and cons, discuss possible options and come to conclusions about what they think is best.  Please pray for our family as well, as we walk through this process with Koal’s team of doctors: that we would trust that God continually goes before us and that He will guide and protect us, that we would remember always that He is the Great Physician and Healer who is in control and knows our future well, and that we would also have clarity and peace about each decision made. Pray the God would give us a clear and obvious direction and answers to questions and unknowns, so that we would feel Him showing us the way and know He is leading us through His desired plan for this part of Koal’s life.  Please continue to pray for the little guy himself, as well! Pray that Koal would continue to do well as he grows, that there would be no complications or outside issues before the next surgeries, and that God would continue to receive the abundant glory He deserves in this.

Your continued prayers, concern, encouragement and support mean the world to us.  Please know we are so thankful for each of you and your love for our little Koal.