Welcome to our Prayer Page. This page has been provided to keep people updated about the prayer needs of Kennedy Grace. We have listed the history of "Baby Tippens Updates" under the Journal section. Please don't forget to take time to sign the guestbook.

Kennedy Grace Tippens

Born: 06/24/2004 10:39am

Weight: 6 lbs. 12 oz. Length: 19 1/4 inches

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10


For the latest information, please scroll down to read the Journal Entry.


OVERVIEW:
2/22/04 Kennedy was diagnosed in utero with massive heart issues. We were told she would not live & if she did, she probably would not survive the surgery to correct her heart.

6/24/04 She miraculously made it to birth & had a pacemaker inserted when she was one day old. She was diagnosed with complete heart block, she had a heart rate of 50 in utero & this has been her normal rate since then (should be 120-180). This has been "corrected" with the pacemaker. She also had a condition called pulmonary stenosis. This was corrected with an angioplasty (9/16/04) surgery.

8/6/04 Kennedy has had some complications with her surgeries. On 8/6/04 she was hospitalized for a diaphramatic hernia- a life threatening condition where the intestines come up into the lungs. This may have been caused by the pacemaker insertion surgery. In addition, the pacemaker was moving around and had to be stabilized on 11/3/04.
January 2005 Kennedy admitted to hospital for respiratory rate in upper 90's, lung collapse in three separate places- findings consistent with pneumonia. However, Kennedy had no other symptoms- no runny nose, no fever.
February 2005 Cardiologist determined Kennedy's heart was getting larger & progressively worse. We will have to do open heart surgery now versus when she is four.
February 25, 2005 Kennedy underwent open heart surgery. She received a new dual chamber pacemaker- a newer one that is the "cadillac" of pacemakers. This pacemaker has five leads on her heart versus the one lead she had before. They baffled the pulmonary veins that were going to the wrong place. This is called Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR) These veins had caused a hole in her heart. This is referred to as an atrial septal defect. The doctors were successful and the problem is now fixed. They also did further work on her pulmonary stenosis that had been worked on last September. All of these things were successful. From now on, we are hoping all she will need is pacemaker maintenance every few years.


May 2005 Kennedy is doing WONDERFUL!! She will have pacemaker maintenance from now on. The only possiblity from the cardiologist's standpoint is that she would need valve replacement surgery when she is late teens/early twenties. At this point, valve replacement involves open heart surgery, but by then he thinks the procedure will be much less invasive due to increased technology.
***PLEASE check out the photo album for new pictures


**Recommended Movie/Documentaries:
"Partners of the Heart" true story about the pioneers of open heart surgery- Alfred Blalock & Vivien Thomas.
"Something That the Lord Made"- movie format of the above documentary- excellent movie!!

E-mail Author: jaytippens@yahoo.com

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Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.