Surgery Nerves

[GORDZ]

mate, my thoughts are with you! They truly do a great job there, you have my utmost best wishes and I can't wait to hear how successful her op was =)

[Jason[98.EL]]

Originally Posted by Fled74

OK, another update:
My daughter's surgery was supposed to be done yesterday morning, but was pushed back till next Tuesday. Another child needed a heart transplant - they'd been waiting for a donor for a while and one became available that morning.

It's good in a way that the docs are comfortable with postponing Christa's operation, because she's not really "critical". She's feeding well and steadily putting on weight and exhibits none of the signs associated with her heart condition.

Still, the sooner it's done, the better.

At the end of the day the little one that got the surgery yesterday is hopefully now a little healthier

I know for a fact that RCH would not put your little ones opp of it was req now

As i have said before if you need to I can pm you my mobile and be here 24/7 for you to chat with if needed

Jason

[FTE217]

Fled I just saw this thread and feel for you both but you got to have faith all will go well...I haven't got anything to ad either but support being a parent of 3 treasures I could only imagine what you and your wife must be going through mentally.
Keep us updated thanks.

[ltd]

All the very best mate for her and your family. I'm sure she'll be fine but for Dad and Mum the stress is immeasurable. She'll be in safe hands; these surgeons these days are real supermen when it comes to this kind of operation. Thanks for keeping us updated, I'm sure the thoughts and prayers of the whole Ford Forums community will be with her and your family when she goes into surgery.

[Fled74]

OK, after arriving at RCH at 9:30am, she went into the operating theater just before 1pm. Having the nurse take her away from us was the hardest thing.
We went out for a meal and coffee and a bit of retail therapy.
It's been four hours and we're back at RCH, in the Family Resource Centre. Still waiting for their call.
I know she's in the best of hands, but the tears come unbidden every time I think about it.

[FTE217]

Oh far out just seeing you posting makes me worry !
Keep it together man it has to turn out alright believe it !
We are all behind her.

[zdcol71]

Waiting with the rest for good news, stay strong.

[Fled74]

Cheers, gents.

[Fled74]

OK, the doc rang us a half hour ago and said all is well, and we can see her soon.
Thanks for all the kind words and support, from all you good folk. Cheers.

[zdcol71]

All's well.... cherish the time with her

[Jason[98.EL]]

great to hear mate

look forward to you telling us that you are taking her home

Jason

[Spudz27]

Great to hear all is well.

[FTE217]

Thats better good to see you have been advised all is well !

[iCat]

Originally Posted by Fled74

OK, the doc rang us a half hour ago and said all is well, and we can see her soon.

that is such a nice sentence to read from you.

[Fled74]

Just spoke to the wife who's at the hospital. Christa has started to come around, and can hear when she's spoken to. Most of the tubes have come out, and at the rate she's progressing, she may be moved into Recovery early, either tonight or tomorrow morning. Our little girl is kicking ***.

[FTE217]

WOOOOHOOOOO

[Jason[98.EL]]

great to hear

told you that the R.C.H knows what they are doing

glad she is doing so well

Jason

[ELGT4me]

Originally Posted by Fled74

Just spoke to the wife who's at the hospital. Christa has started to come around, and can hear when she's spoken to. Most of the tubes have come out, and at the rate she's progressing, she may be moved into Recovery early, either tonight or tomorrow morning. Our little girl is kicking ***.

That's great news!!! Now give her a hug from all her "uncles" & "aunts" @ Australian Ford Forums. Greg.

[Ghiagirl]

Originally Posted by ELGT4me

That's great news!!! Now give her a hug from all her "uncles" & "aunts" @ Australian Ford Forums. Greg.

I second that!! Well done little Christa, and well done mum and dad for staying strong when it's the most hardest to do!

[Fled74]

Another update: She was taken off the respirator around midday, and since then she's been breathing on her own, unassisted. She opens her eyes periodically and cries because she's hungry. After less than 24 hours in the ICU, she was moved to the recovery ward. The nurses are surprised at how strong she is.

The staff at RCH are very impressive, and the hot young nurses aren't bad either.

[ELGT4me]

Originally Posted by Fled74

Another update: She was taken off the respirator around midday, and since then she's been breathing on her own, unassisted. She opens her eyes periodically and cries because she's hungry. After less than 24 hours in the ICU, she was moved to the recovery ward. The nurses are surprised at how strong she is.

The staff at RCH are very impressive, and the hot young nurses aren't bad either.

Without a doubt a young muscle car driver!!! Please give this young princess all the love & attention she deserves.Her story bought tears to my eyes. Greg.

[FTE217]

Such good news again Fled, I kissed and hugged my little 5yr old Princess in honour of Christa they make us Daddys melt big time

[Jason[98.EL]]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Such good news again Fled, I kissed and hugged my little 5yr old Princess in honour of Christa they make us Daddys melt big time

couldnt agree more

i just gave my 8 yr old daughter a hug as well

Jason

[roadrage77]

At least she's so young that she won't remember a thing about it in the course of time. Still a tough situation though - good luck with it all.

[fangq]

Originally Posted by Fled74

Thanks guys.

Our daughter had an open heart procedure at age 20 months back in 1994.
As a parent, those hours sitting in the parents' lounge are tough.
Still, we knew she was in excellent hands, and all went well. Be prepared for
post op ICU..it can be a little overwhelming.

From memory, our daughter was bouncing in her cot trying to escape about 3 days post op : the resiliency of the young.

She had a check the other week at Prince Charles Hospital, and the surgeon who was part of the original team was thrilled to hear that our daughter is in first year medicine.

regards

Steve

[terra australis]

Gosh I wish I had seen this earlier... Our son went 12 years before we found out he had major issues with his heart. He underwent OHS last year to fix the problems (7 hours). There is a great support group at your hospital called heartkids www.heartkids.org.au (if u havent met them already).

All up we spent 11 days in the ICU due to complications which required more surgery but once out of ICU he only spent 3 days on the ward then we were on our way home. It is amazing how quickly they recover.

I wish you and your family all the best...

Since I have a platform

6 babies each day are diagnosed heart defects in Australia today...

So thats more than 2015 babies a year are born with Congential Heart Defects..

Congential Heart Disease is the most common reason for Admission of Australian children into intensive care units with more than 1300 being admitted each year.

Childhood Heart Disease is no fault of the child or parent its just a cruel hand of fate.

Nearly twice as many children die from Childhood Heart Disease compared with all childhood cancers.

The severity of defects in heart children can range from a simple hole in the heart to highly complex combinations of conditions.

The only paediatric heart transplant unit in Australia is at the Royal Childrens Hospital Melbourne.

Cures for these heart conditions remains unidentified....

From the Heart kids website...

Also they are doing a fundraiser for the month of August/September Cuppa for Kids.

Or if you happen to buy food from

Donut King, Brumbies, Brumbies go, Michels Patisserie, Bigh dads pies if you buy a special combo $1 goes to heart kids.

Thanks

[Fled74]

Okay, we had a big scare today.
The nurses took the monitor wires out of Christa's chest as scheduled, but then her heart rate dropped sharply and she went pale. I was standing there watching it happen and I just went cold. A call went out and a bunch of docs and nurses came into the room (like a scene from E.R.) and I was asked to step outside. My wife came running up, pale as a ghost, asking what happened.
Apparently a blood clot had developed in Christa's chest cavity and the added pressure was keeping her heart from pumping normally, and they rushed her into the operating theater to drain the clot.

After several panicked phone calls to family and friends, my wife finally calmed down when the surgeon rang us to say Christa was stable and her heart was OK.
The heart itself didn't need further surgery and is pumping normally, even without the stimulant drugs they were going to give her.

She's back at the ICU, sleeping (under sedation) and her vital signs are good, especially her breathing patterns, which have significantly improved since they removed the clot.

We're not back to square one; it'll just take a few days more than expected before she's allowed to go home.

[terra australis]

Sorry to hear that....its amazing when things go wrong how quickly the staff are on top of things...your right its just a little step backwards and hopefully its onwards and upwards from now on...my thoughts and prayers are with your family...

[Fled74]

I just went completely numb when it happened. I thought I was watching her die right in front of me.

She's much better now, more so than before they took the wires out. She's off the respirator and breathing steadily and normally, and is more active and lucid - she responds when we talk to her.

[Spudz27]

Good to hear mate. Those pacemaker wires are horrible lol. I can only imagine how you felt, as I am on the other end, I actually died twice after my second op. Is this the last surgery?