Heart Cath Day

I just walked down to the cath lab with little Emma Kate in my arms. She was pretty much out of it, although she wasn't asleep. She was still smiling, as always. I gave her lots of kisses and then handed her over to Libby, our sweet Child Life Specialist, who has given lots of love and attention to Emma Kate during our stay here.

In the cath lab today they are going to insert a PICC line if they can find an acceptable vein. They will then start the procedure, inserting a catheter into a vein or artery in her groin and following it up into her heart. She will be completely asleep and intubated during this time. The catheter will have a camera on the end of it, which will take pictures of her aortic valve. At that time, they will look for collateral arteries which have grown out of the aorta, going into the lungs. If/when they find these collaterals, they will insert a platinum-based coil into it, stopping the blood flow. This should help lower the pressure in her heart, which is the goal. Somehow, the doctors feel that this should assist in decreasing the drainage from her chest. I'm still not exactly certain how that works, but I trust Dr. Law, who is doing the cath, with my daughter. I know he will do a great job.

Thank you for your prayers, friends. I will update when I have a report for you! Keep checking back!