In the spring of 2013 I had open heart surgery for the second time.
I had my first open heart surgery when I was about two months old. I had to have Transposition of the Great Vessels. The oxygen in my blood was only circulating from my heart to my lungs, to my heart, to my lungs, and back to my heart, so I wasn't getting any oxygen out to the rest of my body. The doctors gave me medication to keep multiple holes in my heart open so that the blood that didn't have any oxygen would mix with the blood that did. This kept me alive long enough for my heart to develop to the stage at which the doctors could go in and fix me. My heart was about the size of a walnut and the consistency of jello when they operated on me!
The fact that I needed surgery when I was born was a complete surprise to everyone and didn't know if I would make it.
For that reason, I was baptized the day I was born!
This second surgery was after monitoring me for years. The doctors had been keeping an eye on what I understand to be some excess scar tissue from the first surgery. After it became a big enough concern, they decided to go in and take it out.
As interested as I am in the human body, anatomy, and physiology, I asked them to take pictures of me and my heart during surgery while my chest was open...
Here are the results!
I had my first open heart surgery when I was about two months old. I had to have Transposition of the Great Vessels. The oxygen in my blood was only circulating from my heart to my lungs, to my heart, to my lungs, and back to my heart, so I wasn't getting any oxygen out to the rest of my body. The doctors gave me medication to keep multiple holes in my heart open so that the blood that didn't have any oxygen would mix with the blood that did. This kept me alive long enough for my heart to develop to the stage at which the doctors could go in and fix me. My heart was about the size of a walnut and the consistency of jello when they operated on me!
The fact that I needed surgery when I was born was a complete surprise to everyone and didn't know if I would make it.
For that reason, I was baptized the day I was born!
This second surgery was after monitoring me for years. The doctors had been keeping an eye on what I understand to be some excess scar tissue from the first surgery. After it became a big enough concern, they decided to go in and take it out.
As interested as I am in the human body, anatomy, and physiology, I asked them to take pictures of me and my heart during surgery while my chest was open...
Here are the results!
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Last chance to turn back!
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ok, here we go!
The surgery was a success and they said I will not have to have any more surgeries! Praise the Lord!