Our trip to Michigan!!

This weekend was our big trip To Ann Arbor, Michigan. We left on thursday and got there in four hours. We were blessed to have both of our amazing and supportive parents come with us. On Friday, June 15, we stepped into CS Mott's children and women's hospital at the university of Michigan. This place was gorgeous and everyone was so friendly. We started our day with an 8:00 ultrasound. We had our first 3-D experience and I have to admit, he is just gorgeous! Next, at 9:00 we had another 2 hour fetal echo. We met with the cardiologist, who was so awesome and down to earth, we liked her instantly. She had all of our records from when we saw the Cardiologist in Akron. She had to admit the picture that was laid out for us was identical to what they saw. The good news with this is no more bad news to add to our already broken hearts. There was no hesitation or question on them taking our case. They were going to give our baby a chance! They have seen these types of heart defects and have successfully repaired them. Our prayers are being heard! I feel this is gods plan and this is the path we should be on. At 12:00 we met with the surgeon, she gave us a step by step plan of our surgeries. I will be having a c-section at 39 weeks. This is so the situation can be maintained and everyone involved will be prepared and ready to go. I of course have my own personal fears of surgery but I will do anything to give my boy the best outcome I can! We have not gone this far to jeopardize anything! He will immediately be taken away and sent to surgery. My heart becomes heavy hearing this, just knowing I will not be able to hold him just kills me. He is required to have three surgeries, one at the first day of his precious life, which is the most critical for survival. If surgery is successful he has a 90 percent chance of survival. Wow....... Our chances went from 10 percent in Akron to 90 percent in Michigan. No words can describe how all of us felt when hearing that percentage. I just looked up and thanked god!!! In the first surgery they will immediately repair the total anomalous of the pulmonary venous return along with placement of a pulmonary artery band. This is so they can adequately adjust the blood supply to the lungs. Over the following weeks, the surgeon will need to adjust the band to the proper tightness. She explained possible complications and how the first few weeks of his precious life are most critical. If the surgery is successful and he remains stable with little issues, we will be sent home. At 4-6 months of age he will have his 2nd surgery. They will perform a hemi-fontan, with removing the band and correctly repairing the way the upper portion of his blue blood circulates through his body. Third surgery is at 2 years of age, a repair of the lateral tunnel fontan, which is the repair of the lower circulation of blue blood. After the final surgery our percentage of survival increases to 97 percent! Complications can happen with possibly experiencing more surgeries but these our the most critical for survival. He will have a long and hard road but we will all fight. Medication will need to be given everyday of his life and risks of multiple hospital visits our possible since his immune system is unlike other normal heart babies. We just hope and pray that he is in the percentage of stable babies with congenital heart defects. Our hopes and dreams have been restored, Michigan has given us an outlook that is positive! To all my die hard Ohio state fans, you know I love you but this child will so be a Michigan fan. If these surgeries our successful and Chris and I will have our little boy he will be saying "Go Blue" all the way home!!!!!!!!!!!!