Due Date

Wednesday January, 28th, 2015, we were back at Children´s Medical Center for new ultrasounds and meetings with the cardiologist. We met with two other cardiologists that were already involved in our child’s heart. After meeting with the cardiologists we met with Dr. Nugent a neonatologist that will perform the first procedure on James. We had a long talk with him and he explained how he would go in through a vessel in the groin to put in a heart catheter. He will open up the intact atrial septum so oxygenated blood will come through to the right side. Then they will put the pulmonary artery bands on to slow down the blood flow. They won´t be able to see how much damage the lungs have and how the heart is working until they have done the heart cath. When this procedure is done James will be in NICU and get rest and plenty of nutrition to get big and strong for the Noorwood surgery. Dr. Nugent was pretty straight forward and let us know that his lungs could be damaged and if they don’t get developed enough they will let us know what they can do and it might mean that he is not strong enough for the Surgery. This is a very serious case, but we must stay optimistic. The doctors at UT Southwestern and Children´s Medical Center had a meeting over lunch and they had discussed our case and came up with a date where they would all be available. February 24^th, 2015 looks like be the due date for James. We met with Dr. Santiago at UT Southwestern who is a high risk OBGYN. She will be delivering our baby. We discussed when and how James will be born. A C-section will easier for the team to get ready for, but regular induced childbirth will be better for my wife. Our baby will be just as safe either way, so we are almost positive that we will induce the childbirth on the 24th. We also had an ultrasound to see how James was doing. He is growing and everything looked great, his weight was estimated to be 5 lbs and 13 oz. According to the new plan James will be delivered at Parkland Hospital in the morning by Dr. Santiago. Doctor Nugent’s team will be in the next room to take over, prepare him for heart catheter and connect all necessary machines. Security will stand by, holding doors and elevators for us to get James to Children´s Medical Center as soon as possible. The goal is 20 minutes, so we will be in a rush. We finally have a date, my wife will be 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant. It is getting close, keep your fingers crossed and thank you for all the prayers.