Marcus Update #18

Well... Marcus has his heart catheterization scheduled for October 5th. This test is to try to determine why he still needs oxygen. They will have to put Marcus to sleep for this test. They will put the catheter into his femoral artery, and will pass it all the way up into and through his heart into his pulmonary artery. There they will check the pressure. This is about all I know about it. Marcus will need to be in the hospital overnight. The test will be done at Phoenix Childrens Hospital. We appreciate your continued prayers for Marcus. Thank you.

Marcus update #17

Hello again. Sorry it's been soo long again. Things have been kind of crazy this last month with Marcus. We've had a couple of echo's, some blood work, some chest x-rays, 2 trips to the ER, and one weekend stay in Phoenix Childrens Hospital.

There is still no word on why the pericardial effusion came back. It has gotten smaller, but Marcus is still on the lasik (medicine). We are also now dealing with another mystery, which was the reason for his recent hospitalization. He has an increased need for oxygen. We are mainly working with the cardiologist on both of these issues. We have not had the heart cath. yet, but when I spoke to the doctor on friday, he sounded like we would be moving forward with that soon. That may give us an answer to the oxygen question. I think that we were all hoping that the effusion would be resolved first, but that doesn't seem to be happening yet.

I know that this isn't much information, but I just wanted to let you know what was happening. Marcus is doing well otherwise. He is healthy and happy and growing just like he should be. He weighs about 14 pounds now. I will update again as soon as I get some more information. Thanks again for your prayers.

Marcus update #16

Hi. We had the echocardiogram that I mentioned in the last update today, and spoke to the cardiologist. They are pretty definite now that the VSD is closed. They are also pretty definite that the ASD will not close without surgery. There is not a rush on this and we will probably do it sometime next year - maybe in the spring. There is also some mitral valve thing(that's a medical term, I think :) ), that they are going to fix at the same time. This surgery involves opening up his chest and stopping his heart. They said that if it all goes well he would probably be in the hospital for about a week.

I have to admit that my heart kind of sinks when I think about this. I wish that my baby didn't have to go through all of this. And I guess I wish that I didn't have to either. I know that the Lord is using this child in many ways in my life, as well as in the lives of my husband and children, and even those of our friends and family.

The fluid around his heart is still there. The blood work showed normal thyroid function, so it is still a mystery, why the fluid returned. The doctor prescribed some medicines to try this week, and wants to see another echocardiogram next week. We will be able to have that done at the hospital here though this time. He will know by then if the medicine is helping or not.

The doctor also wants to do a heart cathetorization soon to check the internal pressure in the pulmonary artery and try to find out why Marcus still needs oxygen. This test involves incerting a probe thing(another medical term) in his femural artery (at the top of his leg) and making it go up through his heart into his pulmonary artery. He would obviously have to be asleep - anesthetized - for this procedure. He sounded like he wanted to do that soon - within the next few weeks. This would be done at Phoenix Childrens Hospital.

I think that's it.

Thanks for your prayers for Marcus. We greatly appreciate them. We also appreciate people letting us know that they are praying for Marcus. It is very encouraging. Please also let us know if there is ever anything that we can do for you, or anything that we can pray for for you.

Remember...

God is great and prayer is powerful!

Marcue update #15

Hi. It's really late but I really wanted to get this out so people could start praying for Marcus in force again.

The cardiologist found fluid around Marcus's heart again today (Pericardial Effusion). He had it when he was born and had to have a needle stuck in his chest after birth to have it removed so his heart could function. It was not there in March, but is there now. He is not sure why. He has ordered a repeat echocardiogram for the end of next week down at Phoenix Childrens Hospital, and there is a chance that they may have to try to remove the fluid again.

He has also ordered some lab work to try to find out what has caused the fluid to return. One thing he is checking is Marcus's thyroid. I tried to have the labs done today, but they couldn't get it. They tried for over an hour, 3 different people tried. They stuck him 3 times and got nothing. It was a long day.

And there was a bit of good news - Marcus's VSD(Ventrical Septal Defect - hole between the lower cambers of the heart) looks like it is totally closed. His ASD(Atrial Septal Defect - hole between the upper cambers of the heart) however is still really open. If this doesn't close soon Marcus will have to have open heart surgery to repair it. That is obviously something that I would rather not do if possible.

I will be at Phoenix Childrens Hospital with Marcus tomorrow afternoon at the appointments I told you about in the last update, so I hope to get the lab work done while there tomorrow. They have a lot more experience drawing blood from babies - I know it from experience. They are great!

I will update you when I know more. For now please pray for Marcus. This is pretty serious. He is otherwise very healthy right now, and very happy. He is about 12 3/4 lbs. and about 25 in. long now.

Thanks. Kim

Marcus #14

Hello. Just wanted to let you all know how Marcus is doing. He is doing well now. He did get a mild case of pneumonia again at the end of June. He did not have to be hospitalized this time.

He is up to about 12 1/2 lbs. He is still on oxygen all the time, and the apnea monitor at night (monitors his heart rate and breathing). He is the happiest baby! He is truly a blessing and a joy in our family.

He has come a long way. He has appointments with a few specialists this week. His cardiologist on Wednesday up here in Prescott, and then in Phoenix on Thursday he has appointments with his Neurologist and his Pulmonologist at the Phoenix Children's Hospital. I anticipate all good news.

Please continue to pray that the holes in Marcus's heart will close by God's hand rather than by the doctor's. I really don't want him to have to have open heart surgery. It scares me, to be quite honest. I trust completely in the Lord and know that either way He chooses will be for my good and for His glory. So maybe you could pray for me too. That I will have peace, that my faith will be strong and that I will not fear if he has to have the surgery.

Thank you. I'll update again soon.

Kim

Marcus update #13

Hello. Sorry... again... for taking soo long to update this. I still don't have email access at home. Marcus is home from the hospital. He came home June 1st. He is doing very well. In fact we took him on his first camping trip last weekend. He has some followup appointments in Phoenix this week - Pulmonology and Gastrointerology. Thanks for your prayers for us. God bless. Kim

Update #12

Hi... Sorry it's been soo long since I've sent out an update. Things were going very well. They are still going pretty good, but I am sitting in a hospital room again with Marcus as I type this. He has pneumonia again. He is older, bigger and stronger this time - 10 pounds 5 ounces now. It is not as bad this time and we are in the hospital in Prescott. He was admitted yesterday and will probably only have to be here for a few days. We would still appreciate your prayers for him and for our family.

We are doing pretty well. The Lord is good and faithful to keep His promises. Isn't it comforting to know that He loves us and cares for us? This life, in this world is so full of trouble and pain - no one is immune, it comes to everyone. I don't know about you, but I know I need a crutch. I'd never have made it this far without God. John 16:33 - "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 14:27 "Peace I Leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." I could not have peace without Him.

Thank you for your prayers for us. I will try to get some pictures on here again soon. Marcus has grown and changed so much. Thank you again.

Philippians 4: 4-7 "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Bathe your mind in scripture and rest peacefully in Him.

Kim