Heart surgery

When Zach was at his 5 year old well visit (and I was 9 months pregnant with #4) they checked his femoral pulse. They found a weak beat and sent in 2 more Dr's to take a listen to his heart. As my heart started rushing, and 2 year old Camilla started destroying the room, the Dr said that I needed to make an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist. I left the Dr's office pretty scared to say the least. After a few weeks and several appointments at Children's National Hospital we were told that Zach had a coarctation of the aorta and would need open heart surgery to fix. It was a really scary time for us. We decided to wait until after Isaac was born to do the surgery. My sister came out and stayed with me to help out with the kids. Jason lived at the Hospital and Isaac and I went back and forth each day. I still cannot believe I took a new born to the hospital each day in the critical pediatric ICU waiting room. I could also not take him back in the ICU where Zach was, so I had total strangers hold him in the waiting room, while I went in to stay with Zach.

Zach had his surgery,came out of it great, and is now doing awesome. It was a very scary time for our family. I think back now to our 1st check up after his week long stay at Children's National Hospital in DC. I asked the Dr. when we would be "out of the woods". He said that Zach would always have to be monitored. Every 3-6 months at 1st, then every year. After 5 years they would do a stress test to make sure the blood was pumping through the aorta correctly. They went in and took a 2-3 inch piece out that was pinched closed. This was not allowing the blood to flow to his lower body. Most children who have this repair are under the age of one. Zach was one of the few kids that was older. (I hate to say that 3 or 4 different Dr's had missed it in his 1st 5 years of life). He said that if Zach would not have had this surgery he could have just dropped dead in his teenage years, probably playing sports. I asked him if Zach could play sports?
I loved his response. He said this is your son and you ultimately make the decisions, but I would never let my child not experience life, because of the what ifs.

Zach has gone on to play any and ever sport he has ever wanted. In fact we really encourage him to do so. I would hate for him to wake up one day as an adult and be sad he missed out on childhood because his mom was scared of the what ifs.

That is not to say that I don't pull every coach aside and let then know about Zach's condition and what "could " happen. It just makes me feel better.

Here are a few pic's of the scar (that we told him looks like a really cool shark bite). This was about 8 months after surgery.

I am posting this post because Zach is now in the championship game of his football league! Last weekend his team won the semi finals and on Saturday he will play for the championship.

We are so proud of Zach. He has struggled this season with a lot of bumps and many bruises with his new sport. He plays 1st string linebacker. Don't know much about football, but you have to be tough and aggressive. Zach does not seem to be either of those around the house, but on the field he is AWESOME! Thank heaven for good Health!