Brandon And Tyler
   WELCOMEmy storyjournalguestbookphotoslinkstributesauthor sign inhelp
 
 
    See All Photos
 
 

Brandon has been diagnosed with a Mitochondrial Disorder - Complex 1 Deficiency. Tyler worried us initially with some 'mito-ish' problems with blood sugars, however seems to be outgrowing most of his issues and is a happy, healthy, rambunctious toddler.

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear."

~Ambrose Redmoon

    Read Story
 
  SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2008 09:28 PM, CST
Subscribe to journal update notification

Wow - sorry for so long between updates!

Last week went very well. Tuesday morning I was prepped for the heart procedure - checked in at 9am, rolled into the OR at 2pm (fasting - uuugh! mostly i just whined about not getting coffee. I think they should offer IV caffien to us coffee addicts when they make us fast ALL day).

I found out I am severely allergic to Vancomycin - that was fun...

Oh and I get totally bombed on IV benadryl... that really WAS fun...

From that point on most of the procedure is a blur.. I was awake but very doped up on benadryl and something else they gave me that made it all a pretty happy experience... A few hours later I woke up with a picture of the xray of my heart with the device in place (apparently I hounded them for a picture the whole time... lol!! Im a total geek even when im wasted on IV sedatives).

The great news is Dave says my O2 levels were at 100% as soon as I left the OR!!

Thats right... Im off oxygen for the first time in 8 months!!!!! My levels are beautiful and I have noticed several crazy changes since I left the hospital...

-Im warm... I am the girl who wore sweaters in Jamaica, and long underwear in the summer... I have been cold my whole life... now, in December, Im in a tank top in my living room and totally comfortable!! Its wild...

-Im pink - my cheeks are pink... Ive never thought I was particularily 'unpink' before but now that I have more color i look downright sickly in my pictures from before the procedure! Everyone keeps asking if Im overheated my cheeks are so rosy!! :)

-The BEST part - Im not winded... I can walk up stairs without resting or getting totally winded (always been an issue), I can walk around the grocery store without getting winded, I can do laundry without breaking a sweat... Im not even a week out of surgery and I feel WAY better than before.

The surgeon said that the hole was much higher on the heart wall than they expected which might be why it caused more problems that it normally does in people...

I dont care - its fixed and I feel better!!

Its a long recovery - 3 weeks of no lifting, 3 months of cautious activity, and 6 months of blood thinners before Im considered 'healed'... but today I feel better than I have in a very very long time, so I'll take it.

The boys are doing ok - Ty is doing great right now, and looking forward to getting back to a regular life now that were home. Brandon is sick again today - some sort of tummy bug. Were hopeful he is over the worst of it as he ate dinner and kept it down. He really cant take much more stress at the moment so were hopeful its over.

So thats us... back home, in time for the holidays, hopefully all of us on the mend.

Life is good.

K

    Read Journal
 
  GUESTBOOK SIGNED 0 TIMES TODAY

Please sign our guestbook and let us know you were here! We love hearing from our guests! :)

    Visit Guestbook
 
     53281 VISITS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS

PLEASE GIVE THIS SEASON
This season, please give to CaringBridge.

In this season of gatherings, family and reflection, please give to CaringBridge. Your gift helps connect family and friends when they need it most.


HELP SOMEONE ELSE WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST
     Tell a Friend about CaringBridge.
    Help CaringBridge provide this free service to others who need similar support.

TRIBUTE DONATIONS TO CARINGBRIDGE
    Read the caring tributes in honor of Brandon.
    Make a donation in tribute to Brandon to provide CaringBridge to all families who need it.

EMAIL AUTHOR
tig_ger51@hotmail.com