The cath lab

Lucy had her cardiac cath today. One of Chuck's best friends just happened to be doing his rotation this month in pediatric cardiology so he was actually able to sit in on Lucy's procedure. It actually made me feel much better about the whole thing. Handing your baby over to strangers is never easy so it was a little easier knowing someone we knew was there with her. It was a little hard being back in those hallways and waiting room where so much has happened before. My mom got teary eyed several times today and the woman is a rock. She may have been a crier in her younger years but never in my memory.
The cath went well. Lucy's cardiologist who also was the one who does the cath lab took us in a small room to show us the results. Most of you know that Lucy had open heart surgery at 3 1/2 months to have a shunt placed. The purpose of the shunt was to get her pulmonary arteries to grow. Her right artery has done a great job growing but her left hasn't grown at all. This is going to make her full repair a little more tricky. The surgeons may decide to put in a conduit which would be made out of some type of animal parts. We always thought Lucy was part pig. Anyway, this means Lucy will be probably need surgery in 5 years or so to replace the conduit if that's what they end up doing. Even if they don't do it she'll still probably need another open heart surgery as a child.
We're in a tough spot right now. Chuck is supposed to be in Utah by July first for a rotation. Then he is supposed to do air force rotations in aug. and sept. So ideally we need her surgery done like yesterday. There has been talk of her waiting until we get back but I know she won't be able to hold out that long. I am just praying it works out. I really don't want to do this without Chuck.
I'm at home with jack and hazel. Chuck is spending the night at the hospital. On Friday Lucy's cardiologist will meet with the surgeon's and make a decision.