Lincoln Update

My baby Lincoln

Last Friday we went to see Dr Finnigan (Lincoln’s Cardiologist).  We had all of the regular EKG, weight, length, oxygen level ect. . .  He was 23″ and weighed 12 pounds and was getting 100% oxygen.  Lincoln does not enjoy anything about riding in the car, so by the time we drove the hour to the doctor’s he was quite worked up and he continued his fussiness through the EKG.  Because of all of that we didn’t have a blood pressure this time.  I do my very best to have him happy (tummy full) and sleepy so that they can examine him, but this time Lincoln didn’t want to cooperate.  Dr Finnigan told us if you have time he could wait for him to go to sleep – we agreed and then gave up after Dr Finnigan came back into our room for the third time.  Seriously he might be the most patient Dr I have ever seen and then he thanked us for our patience .

With no ultrasound (echo) done this visit, we discussed the recent chest x-ray and his pending surgery plans.  The x-ray was odd – meaning looking at Lincoln’s chest x-ray in comparison to a normal heart is just a very different view.  The x-ray was done more to have a picture of Lincoln’s normal, so that if he gets sick and we need to have another x-ray done there is something to compare it too.  The x-ray will also be used to see how it grows as he gets older.  Surgery is going to happen sometime before Lincoln is one for the leaky valve.  Dr Finnigan says this is not going to fix itself where the VSD had that potential – the leaky valve will have to be fixed.  They will go in to put a band around the valve so that the flow through that valve will be slowed.  We are waiting for Lincoln’s body to tell us when that will happen, but the closer we can get to the one year mark the better.  Because babies grow so fast in the first year – if surgery has to be done say at 6 months they could have to go back in for a second surgery around 12 – 18 month.  If surgery can wait till around the one year mark they could hold off on the second surgery longer (a couple of years maybe).  All of the ages are just approximate just as an example to see the big picture.  He is still taking his diuritic medication, but for now no new medications.

In a few months Dr Finnigan is going to take Lincoln’s file to a Cardiologist Conference to share it with some heart surgeons.  After hearing from the heart surgeons their opinions then we can break down exactly what will really be best for Lincoln’s case.

When I look at Lincoln it is hard to think about what is going on inside his body.  I thank God mutiple times a day that He gave me such a blessing, and I truly hope that through all of this it will bring glory to God – because after all why else are we here on this earth.