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Original poster

HELP... My friends DS 4m having heart op tom

37 replies

littlepicklesmum · 23/05/2007 11:05

I have just heard from a friend of mine who's DS has been taken in to london hospital for operation tomorrow to have the hole on her heart closed... how successful is this proceedure?
Of course we are all worried sick.

OP posts:
Original poster
littlepicklesmum · 23/05/2007 11:06

I meant DD not DS am in a bit of a flap its me with the DS!

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HonorMatopoeia · 23/05/2007 11:09

I teach a lad who had an extremely successful hole in the heart op and used to have a friend who also had a very successful op too. Don't know much more than that I'm afraid but wanted to bump thsi for you. Hopeall goes well x

Original poster
littlepicklesmum · 23/05/2007 11:25

thank you, having just had a major op myself I know how difficult it is to say, but when its a baby... oh it its just comforting to know that others have come through. thanks. x

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Wallace · 23/05/2007 11:28

My dd had a hole in her heart and had surgery to correct it. It is a very successful procedure, but scary for the parents to go through. Has your friend's dd been unwell?

HonorMatopoeia · 23/05/2007 11:28

No worries,it is heartbreaking when a little one has to go through these things. If it is any help both of these people now lead full lives (the lad I teach is such a naughty tyke there is no way of knowing he ever went through such an operation - he's fit, healthy and just has a scar along his chest which he calls his zipper!)

geekgrrl · 23/05/2007 11:35

hi, it is a pretty safe procedure but of course terribly scary .
The risks vary depending on how well & big the child is, and how the heart is doing etc. Dd2 had this surgery at 7 weeks (6 years ago this week!), was v. poorly and tiny (1lb below her birthweight) at the time and given a 90-95% chance of survival.
She had complications afterwards and was in hospital for a long time, but got over it all eventually. Her heart is as good as new and she is a strapping 6 year old now.

We were a bit unlucky really - every other child I know who's had this done flew through the surgery and post-op period, so fingers crossed your friend's little boy will do too.

morningpaper · 23/05/2007 11:36

good luck to them xxx

Original poster
littlepicklesmum · 23/05/2007 11:37

She was very small at birth and not put on much weight, is breast and bottle feeding her. Yes I hear its more common than we think but devasting for parents. bless her she managed to come and do MILE FOR MAUDE walk with DD and raise some money. Just wish something I can do, but in these circumstances I suppose its just a waiting game.. thank you for replying. x

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geekgrrl · 23/05/2007 11:38

are you able to go and see them?

Original poster
littlepicklesmum · 23/05/2007 11:39

GG, how awful for you, but what a lovely success story. Am glad all ok 6 years on, fingers crossed she will do well too.

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Original poster
littlepicklesmum · 23/05/2007 11:40

GG - am waiting to hear, they have gone to London today. Of course will go up if able to visit post op..God some things just suck don't they.

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eidsvold · 23/05/2007 11:44

like geekgrrl my dd1 had similar surgery to close two holes in her heart and repair a dodgy valve - she was 8 weeks old when she had it done. SHe had a little rockiness post operatively BUT most children seem to fly through surgery and go home very quickly. My dd ended up being in hospital for three weeks BUT her heart is like a 'normal' one now and she is coming up to her fifth birthday - she is my eldest - think there is a pic of them all on my profile.

My dd1 was given a 95% chance of success rate in terms of the surgery. THis sort of surgery seems to be very very common nowadays.

The longest time is when they go off to surgery - it can take up to four hours and the time seems to drag.

dd1 was 8 weeks old and 8lbs when she had it done. The difference in her colour etc was amazing - her energy level went through the roof - instead of feeding by an ng tube - she was able to start taking bottles. Since that surgery - she has annual checkups and is doing great.

eidsvold · 23/05/2007 11:47

I think it was amazing just seeing so many little ones having their surgery and going home so much better than when they came in. Really whilst it is worrying and you can't imagine how they operate on hearts so tiny but it really is a very common operation. It looks quite distressing when they come back from surgeyr with tubes going into them all over the place - dd1 was also cooled and sedated to allow her heart to recover. She also had wires attached to her heart that came out through the wound - they are designed to allow the docs to regulate the heartbeat if needed. So it can be very scary when you see them post surgery in PICU but if you just ask the nurse to explain - it is not that bad.

my dd1 is the one touching the baby in the pic.

Original poster
littlepicklesmum · 23/05/2007 11:55

What inspirational, stories I am hearing, thank you I feel a bit better now. Am off to light a candle.
eidsvold - what a lovely pic, warmed my heart. thanks. x
x

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Wallace · 23/05/2007 11:57

My dd was older (17 months) when she had her surgery. She was in intensive care for a day, High dependency for another day, and running around three days after her surgery!

Original poster
littlepicklesmum · 23/05/2007 12:07

Amazing isnt it? like I said i had major surgery 4 weeks ago and am doing ok, but just a helpless little child is so heart breaking.. you have all made me feel much better. Inspiring stories. thank you. x

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Wallace · 23/05/2007 19:54

I found the good thing about a baby/toddler having a major operation is that they don't know that they are supposed to be ill, and bounce back more quickly. A friend's dad had heart surgery the same time as my dd, and was sore for weeks and weeks, whereas you couldn't even tell dd had had surgery a few weeks later!

LIZS · 23/05/2007 19:57

Wishing them the best for tomorrow . My cousin's ds has had 2 major heart ops since he was born last July, with more to come, and so far has come through them well. They are pretty resilient.

JodieG1 · 23/05/2007 20:00

Hoping that it all goes well. Poor thing having this so young Thinking of your friend, friend's dd, their family and you.

paulaplumpbottom · 23/05/2007 22:16

I hope things go well for your friend

tigerschick · 23/05/2007 22:19

ope all goes well tomorrow. Your friend and her family are in our thoughts xx

Heartmum2Jamie · 24/05/2007 00:07

I hope that all goes well for your freinds baby tomorrow.

I am another heart mummy (hence the screen name, not very original really!). My ds2 was a very poorly boy before being diagnosed with multiple congential heart defects when he was 9 months. He was so poorly that his surgery was done on an urgent basis, just 5 days after being decided to take the case on. His open heart surgery lasted just over 4 hours, he had a small hiccup in PICU meaning he had to be re-intubated for a while, but spent about 50 hours in PICU, just 1 night on high dependancy and went home 6 days post op, almost a different baby to the one I took in, the change was that obvious.

It has been just over 2 years since his op and he has remained stable and is on 6 monthly cardiac appointments. His next one is 3 1/2 weeks away. To look at him, you would never know unless you see his scar (beautiful it is too!)

Wallace · 24/05/2007 07:45

Best wishes...Thinking of your friend and her dd xxxxxxx

Original poster
littlepicklesmum · 24/05/2007 09:59

Thank you all sooo much, I have not heard anything as yet but will let you know as soon as i do. My friend will be very touched when she knows how many people have been thinking of her.

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geekgrrl · 24/05/2007 16:29

any news? Hope it's all gone well.