Fixing her broken heart!!!

3 days after surgery and still very swollen

Right out of 8 hour surgery (very swollen due to being on bypass)

At almost 4 months old Brook's cardiologist told us that she was now big enough, and that it was time to fix her heart. Her heart diagnosis was tetrology of fallot (VSD, Pulmonary valve stenosis), right sided aortic arch, and possible vascular ring. The cardiovascular surgeon explained to us that if there was a salvageable valve that this would be her only surgery, but if it was unusable they would just have to cut it out.

On October 21, 2008 she under went an 8 hour surgery to repair her heart. During our consultation with the surgeon right after the surgery we were told that there was no vascular ring as previously thought, but they were unable to save the valve so they will have to do another surgery to replace the valve later in life(because there was nothing that they could put it that would grow with her).

Seeing our baby girl after surgery was very shocking and scary!! Absolutly nothing can prepare you to see your child like that. On the up side my normally dusky blue baby was the most beautiful shade of pink!!!!!!! Her O2 sats were 99% when we first saw her(big difference from usually being in the low 70's)!!!

Her cardiovascular surgon Dr. tam was so amazing to be able to partially fix such a tiny little heart inside a little bitty baby girl!!! We are so thankful for the great team of cardiologist, cardiovasular surgeons, every one in the OR, and all of the great doctors and nurses that cared for our sweet little angel while at cooks children's hospital!!!