The Final Phase

Kacy's Korner

The Final Phase

The last cath of Kacy's known HLHS journey...

From the beginning of Kacy's journey with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome to the last surgical procedure of her known journey, was to say the least a rollercoaster of fear and happiness, joy and dread. But the miracle child we have now made every step of the way worth the ride. From this first picture of Kacy, a few hours old, getting ready for transport to the hospital where she would have her first surgery, to this other picture of our precious daughter toting her own suitcase out of the hospital after the final cath that closed her hepatic vein which was the last step of her fontan surgery...is nothing far from a miracle by both God and the surgeon and doctors who made it all happen. Kacy's remarkable strength and courage through it all has brought her to where she is today. A lively, fun spirited,loving and caring child who has a special something about her that everyone can see. And we are blessed and honored that God chose us to be her parents.

Kacy gets her discharge papers!

Kacy's final step in her known HLHS journey was to have her hepatic vein coiled off. The surgeon leaves the hepatic vein open after the fontan operation so that the heart and lungs can adjust to the new circulation and pressures. Kacy's hepatic vein had occluded during her recovery after her fontan so they had to put a stent in it to open it back up in a cath procedure a few weeks into her stay at the hospital, which was the first time they had to do such a procedure. Kacy had been doing wonderfully after her final open heart and was going every three to four months to her cardiologist where she would get bloodwork each time to see if she were ready to have the vein closed off. It was prior to Christmas that her pc had said she was ready to have it closed off. At that time Kacy's oxygen level was sat'ing at 81-84. After the holidays Kacy went in for a heart catheratization on January 31, 2003. Kacy sailed through the procedure where they had put in several coils to block it off, and we went home the next day. After that procedure, Kacy is now sat'ing at 94-96. Maybe now Kacy will be able to grow a little quicker. We still don't know what lies ahead in the future for Kacy, or for any of the children who have this heart defect. We know we made the right decision for Kacy and us, and we know that Kacy is enjoying life and brings love into everyones life who knows her.