Seraph Extubated :)

They took out the tube that went down her throat and into her lungs.  She's breathing too rapidly, but they're going to give it 24 hours to see if her breathing rate settles down.  The more worn out she gets...the faster her breathing rate gets.  They might have to put the tube back in.  

but hopefully...hopefully she's done with it.  She hates that tube.  Now that it's out, her voice box is working again and she can suck on her binky :)  She's on high flow oxygen.  She still has a lot of recovery to do before she can come home, but taking the tube out is a huge step in the right direction.

Mommy is happy :)

Seraph's Surgery: The Glen Procedure

Tuesday, Nov 11th, Seraph is scheduled for the 2nd stage of the Norwood Procedure (aka the glen procedure.)

She is 4 1/2 months old.

They'll remove the artificial shunt that was inserted last time.

They'll rearrange the blood vessels that bring blood back to the lungs.  (The vein coming down from the head (superior vena cava) will be detached from the heart and attached to the artery that goes to the lungs to get oxygen.)

So, after this surgery, all the blood returning from her head will go straight to her lungs instead of going back to her heart and then being pumped into her lungs.

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In her next surgery (2-5 years old) they'll rearrange things so that the blood coming from her lower body flows straight to her lungs, too.

My other post on Seraph's heart defect and the surgeries she'll have is found here.

For more information on the Glen Procedure, click here.

We expect things will go well.  Thank you all for your prayers and support.  It's hard watching someone so tiny go through so much.  I really think she's going to be OK.  We expect she'll be in the hospital for a week or so. ...and then back home feeling better than ever :)