tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75860173041840471492024-03-13T03:27:17.173-07:00ethan's journeyGreg and Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306695487772025779noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7586017304184047149.post-64796380873022132152009-08-17T15:02:00.000-07:002009-11-25T17:52:03.786-08:00Summary of Ethan's Journey<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jTfRsNlayq4/Sw3eWRfdu4I/AAAAAAAAAik/CRHnZnTt4po/s1600/CIMG0324.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408223201775696770" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jTfRsNlayq4/Sw3eWRfdu4I/AAAAAAAAAik/CRHnZnTt4po/s320/CIMG0324.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Ethan Skidmore, our fourth child, was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome at 19 weeks in utero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were told he had it very severe and would require a series of three surgeries to make him a “half-heart” baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were overwhelmed, but determined to see the course through and be there for our child every step of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At 27 weeks along Ethan developed further complications called Pleural Effusions (fluid around the lungs).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were told he may not survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After being closely followed Ethan was carried to full term and his effusions were very small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He needed no breathing assistance at birth and looked like a beautiful healthy baby.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span> <div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">At 6 days old he had his first open heart surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Norwood procedure with a Sano shunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Sano shunt was used instead of a BT shunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ethan had a surprise in surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He had a right sided aortic arch that went a did a full wrap (or ring) around his esophagus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He ended up with a trache from vocal cord paralysis from the ring repair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And shortly after surgery, his pleural effusions returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He battled his way through multiple procedures and surgeries (w/ half a heart) and was able to come home at 9 weeks of age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At 11 weeks of age he was able to have his trache removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His vocal cords were working again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We LOVED having him home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">When Ethan was 3 ½ months old he had his second open heart surgery, the Glenn procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This procedure is very dependent on strong lungs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ethan’s lungs were questionable because of the unknown origin behind his pleural effusions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But he needed the procedure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He did well at first, but after 10 days his lungs could no longer tolerate the new pressures and he got an infection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His pleural effusions became worse than ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To make a long story short, Ethan endured 2 more months of multiple surgeries and procedures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He put up a tremendous fight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Every time there was light at the end of the tunnel, other complications came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was determined his heart and lungs were too sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He would need a transplant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As we were exploring this new road we were about to journey down, our Ethan swiftly and peacefully left this life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We are better because of Ethan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He has touched many lives in his short journey on Earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And we are grateful to the Eller Heart Center for their medical efforts and the frienships made during this period in our life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jTfRsNlayq4/SonUeH6z5nI/AAAAAAAAAUg/xQriUDkn0nE/s1600-h/CIMG0294.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371057644602910322" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jTfRsNlayq4/SonUeH6z5nI/AAAAAAAAAUg/xQriUDkn0nE/s320/CIMG0294.JPG" /></a> </div>Greg and Heidihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306695487772025779noreply@blogger.com0