Kaston, July 2004

Kaston was born on November 22, 2002 after a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy, and somewhat easy delivery. He was taken to the nursery for further evaluation, as his oxygen levels were somewhat low, he was just a little blue and he had a heart murmur. After being in the nursery for 4 hours, we was admitted to PICU for further evaluation. After his pediatrician examined him and they did a chest x-ray, he contacted our pediatric cardiologist. The second day after he was born, and after his first echo, they determined that he had a VSD and ASD. He was hooked up to oxygen and had an IV and his cardiologist came in and said, "Get all that junk off of him! He's going to have low oxygen levels?leave him alone!" Before we left the hospital, he had another echo, but this time they saw that the tricuspid valve never formed. Luckily, Kaston's holes in the septum were abnormally large and his oxygen levels were in the 80s.

So, they let us come home after the fifth day. It was really hard for our three year old daughter, Korah. She was so looking forward to seeing her brother in the hospital, but she has made up for lost time since then! She drags him around everywhere! And if she's in the room with him, his eyes are glued to her!

We have been so lucky with him. He's only had a couple of nose infections and a cough, in which he was put on breathing treatments for a month. But other than that, he has been gaining weight and growing much more than his doctors thought he would!

We started noticing that he was turning a little more blue and was sweating much more than usual. So, our p.c. ran his fourth echo and sure enough, the VSD was beginning to close up. So we were going to Children's in Dallas (awesome hospital and staff) on April 22, 2003 for a heart cath and his surgery.

Kaston at 3 months old

On April 24, his heart cath revealed we could go ahead with the Glenn procedure scheduled for the 29th. However, over the weekend, we found out that Kaston had come in contact with someone who had contracted 'Fifth Disease' over Easter weekend and we were not sure whether or not they were contagious while around him. So, the Center of Disease Control advised it was best to wait at least 20 days after last contact.

So, we are now waiting for May 27, 2003, our next scheduled surgery. They say they will do the Fontan when Kaston is 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 years old.

We have been so blessed by Kaston and all the doctors and nurses involved in his life. It was really hard to accept that our "perfect little family" had a "defect", but we know that God is in control (not us and our expectations) and everything happens for a reason. We wouldn't have Kaston any other way. He has brought us closer to God and we have learned to depend on Him much more.

June 2003 Update

Kaston, at age 6 months, had the bi-directional Glenn at Children's Medical Center of Dallas on May 27, 2003. He was in the Cardiac ICU for 6 nights, with a paralyzed diaphragm and a partially collapsed right lung. Other than that, he did very well and his doctors were very pleased with his progress. He was released from the hospital only 10 days after surgery, and was coined the "poster child of a heart baby!" The nurses and doctors just couldn't believe how big he was and how much he ate. They were so impressed that he is such a good baby and a joy to be around. It's hard to tell that there's anything wrong with him, besides his incision. He's already rolling over again and trying to sit up now! He never complains about anything (besides taking his meds!) and is a very enjoyable baby. He is such a blessing to our family!

He will have the Fontan anywhere between 18 months - 3 years of age, of course, depending on how his body handles the stress and activity of a toddler!

May 2004 Update

Kaston is currently in congestive heart failure and his "Fontan" is scheduled for July 13, 2004. He is such a good little boy and so much fun to be around. He is so entertaining and has quite the little personality. He is definitely "all boy". Although he sleeps a lot, he keeps us busy, climbing on EVERYTHING!

He has been healthy since his last surgery in May '03, except for 1 bout with dehydration in October that hospitalized him for 3 days. Other than that, it's been smooth sailing. He has been so blessed to not have had any complications.

Surgery Day

September 2004 Update

Kaston had his Fontan on September 13, 2004 and was discharged only 9 days post-op! What a miracle!