I know I've posted all this information before and I'm pretty sure I've passed on a link to a website that can explain it, but in light of the fact that my son is set to be born any day now, I wanted to repost the information I have.
This is what a 'normal' heart looks like.
This is what our son's heart looks like.
As of right now, the official diagnosis is
1. Double Inlet Left Ventrical- this is seen in the center where there is one opening that dumps blood into both chambers.
2. Hypoplastic Right Heart- this is seen where the chamber on the bottom left (the picture isn't the same direction as the real heart) is under developed. It will never 'grow' to its full potential.
The doctors say he should be fine the first several days but slowly the oxygen rich and oxygen poor blood will flood the body and make it difficult for him to eat and he will turn blue. Also, there is so much blood going to the lungs that his body won't be able to replenish the blood with oxygen fast enough. The doctor said to picture holding a hose up to a sponge. Sure, blood is going through the lungs (water through the sponge) but there is so much blood going through that the lungs can't get air (air can't push past the water in the sponge...).
Surgery will be at 1 week, 5-6 months and then again around 3 years. Thaddeus will be in the NICU roughly a month to a month and a half, depending on how long it takes for him to stabilize and heal.
I'll keep this blog updated as I can as we get more information over the next several weeks!
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