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I am very overdue on posting this, and I do apologize. Life continues to move quickly. I refer to this as "Life moving at the speed of life".
MRI day started in the wee hours of the morning, with us arriving at Denver Children's hospital at 6am. AnnaSophia is always excited to go there. She feels quite at home. This phenomenon only occurs in children who have spent a lot of time at the hospital. She loves her doctors and nurses, and so far has not rebelled against her required visits.
AnnaSophia did experience a little anxiety after the anesthesiologist visited us. She really wasn't too keen on putting the oxygen mask on, even after we "colored" it with some yummy smelling Fruit Smackers. The doctor really wanted to make this a better experience for all of us from the last time she underwent anesthesia. (Quick reminder: She experienced what is called Emergence Delirium while recovering from her heart cath. Basically, she was extremely agitated, angry and out of control.)
The doctor ordered some oral Versed. The difficult part was getting the medication in AnnaSophia. It took a few adults holding her head still while shooting the drug into her mouth with an oral syringe. She was not happy with me, but once the Versed started to take effect, she was a different child. This drug is amazing! She was relaxed and happy...and the best part is that she would not remember a thing. Bonus!
I was able to carry her back to the MRI room, and be with her while she went under. No matter how many times I've watched this, no matter how much I understand all of the technical information, this is still hard for me. Watching my child become limp and fall asleep while under the effects of these drugs is still hard. I don't even know why. Maybe it's because I'm handing complete responsibility over to a team of doctors and nurses. She's out of my care at that point. Maybe it's because it brings back hard memories of her CHD (congenital heart defect) journey. The open heart surgeries, the heart failure, the time spent in the CICU, the time she went into cardiac arrest after transplant, and the list goes on.
However difficult it is, I never show it. I'm strong for her. I smile and tell her she's doing great. I kiss her, and tell her I love her. When I turn around to walk out of the room, the tears fall...quietly...and just a few. I always take a deep breathe and know that she is in God's hands.
The MRI took about two hours to complete, and AnnaSophia came out of the anesthesia beautifully. She was actually quite entertaining. To put it plainly, it was like she was drunk as a skunk. A happy drunk. She was high as a kite, smiling, talking and cooperative. At that point, I could've hugged the anesthesiologist! What a difference from last time!
As she was recovering, the radiologist came in to speak with us. The most amazing thing happened. He reported that her heart looked great! I couldn't understand how we had gone from, "it looks like there is a mass on her heart" to "there is no mass and her heart looks great", but the bottom line is, I'll take it!
The doctor said that her vessels looked good, her heart function looked good, and his best guess is that the view of the ultrasound may have picked up part of her liver making it look like there was a mass on her heart. I felt like a huge worry had been lifted from me. I was thanking God at that moment that she got a clean bill of health.
The reality is that at some point, AnnaSophia will get sick. Her heart will have some problems. She could reject. She could developed transplant coronary artery disease. She could develop heart failure. At some point, she WILL need another heart transplant.
But for now, she is great...and I'm good with that. I have been blessed with more time with my child, living life like any other child (except for the fact that we wash hands like doctors preparing for surgery, and she takes immune suppression medication). I have more days to love my children and make memories with them.
Thank you for everyone who prayed for her and wished us well. All I have to say is that I feel truly blessed.
AnnaSophia did experience a little anxiety after the anesthesiologist visited us. She really wasn't too keen on putting the oxygen mask on, even after we "colored" it with some yummy smelling Fruit Smackers. The doctor really wanted to make this a better experience for all of us from the last time she underwent anesthesia. (Quick reminder: She experienced what is called Emergence Delirium while recovering from her heart cath. Basically, she was extremely agitated, angry and out of control.)
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| Kyle and AnnaSophia |
The doctor ordered some oral Versed. The difficult part was getting the medication in AnnaSophia. It took a few adults holding her head still while shooting the drug into her mouth with an oral syringe. She was not happy with me, but once the Versed started to take effect, she was a different child. This drug is amazing! She was relaxed and happy...and the best part is that she would not remember a thing. Bonus!
I was able to carry her back to the MRI room, and be with her while she went under. No matter how many times I've watched this, no matter how much I understand all of the technical information, this is still hard for me. Watching my child become limp and fall asleep while under the effects of these drugs is still hard. I don't even know why. Maybe it's because I'm handing complete responsibility over to a team of doctors and nurses. She's out of my care at that point. Maybe it's because it brings back hard memories of her CHD (congenital heart defect) journey. The open heart surgeries, the heart failure, the time spent in the CICU, the time she went into cardiac arrest after transplant, and the list goes on.
However difficult it is, I never show it. I'm strong for her. I smile and tell her she's doing great. I kiss her, and tell her I love her. When I turn around to walk out of the room, the tears fall...quietly...and just a few. I always take a deep breathe and know that she is in God's hands.
 |
| Sleeping off the anesthesia |
The MRI took about two hours to complete, and AnnaSophia came out of the anesthesia beautifully. She was actually quite entertaining. To put it plainly, it was like she was drunk as a skunk. A happy drunk. She was high as a kite, smiling, talking and cooperative. At that point, I could've hugged the anesthesiologist! What a difference from last time!
 |
| IV is out and she is a happy girl! |
The doctor said that her vessels looked good, her heart function looked good, and his best guess is that the view of the ultrasound may have picked up part of her liver making it look like there was a mass on her heart. I felt like a huge worry had been lifted from me. I was thanking God at that moment that she got a clean bill of health.
The reality is that at some point, AnnaSophia will get sick. Her heart will have some problems. She could reject. She could developed transplant coronary artery disease. She could develop heart failure. At some point, she WILL need another heart transplant.
But for now, she is great...and I'm good with that. I have been blessed with more time with my child, living life like any other child (except for the fact that we wash hands like doctors preparing for surgery, and she takes immune suppression medication). I have more days to love my children and make memories with them.
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| Still feeling happy and on our way home |
