Day 6 - Procedure day (Friday the 13th)
Well we arrived at the hospital at 7:30 and they took Heidi back to a room to get ready for the procedure, there were two nurses already waiting and then there were two more. These folks were very thorough and would also be in the operating room. We were also glad to know that Connie (our Monday ultrasound nurse) would be in the operating room to do an ultrasound just before the surgery. We liked Connie because she was so friendly and nice to us. She was also nice to our sons, she told us on Monday that she "talks to the babies" while doing the ultrasounds. This also has a calming effect for the parents who are obviously here because of serious problems. Once the anesthesiologist came in and talked to us and then we heard that everything was ready, they allowed me to walk with Heidi to the operating room doors, the nurses stepped away and allowed us to say our goodbyes. It was very hard because we just don't know what will happen during surgery and this would be the first time during the entire process that I would not be with Heidi. It was probably for the best, because I would have probably drove the doctors nuts. I like to ask a lot of questions. There were 15 people present in the operating room during this procedure.
As everything was explained to us previously, the majority of the time would be spent mapping the placenta locating every vascular and arterial connection that is shared by both boys. Once that was complete, then they would go back and double check their work then start the laser coagulation process which takes a very short time.
Karen, the nurse practioner, who has been a great help to us during the process, was also in the operating room, she came out and told us when the procedure actually started. As always, my inquiring mind wanted to know what the largest number of connections that they have found in doing this procedure. Being naive, I thought maybe 100, but Karen told me that the most they have ever found was 14 connections. She told us that when they were completed, she would come back for us to meet with the Dr.
I was glad that my in-laws were here with us during this time. We could have never dealt with all of this without their help and support. Also, my brother-in-law who recently moved to Ohio came down to wait with us, along with a family friend from Springfield, OH. It is never easy to wait for a surgery to be completed, but at the same time, you want the Dr's to take their time and do their best possible job.
Before we knew it, our name was called around noon and we went back to meet with the Dr. During that meeting, he used a white board to explain the procedure and told us that there were 18 shared connections between Jonathan and Joseph. He also told us that there was one rather large vascular connection and they were a bit concerned because they coagulated it last and when they did, Jonathan's heart rate dropped to 35 and then rebounded to its normal rate. The Dr also told us that the next 12-24 hours were critical for Jonathan. I told the Dr that my son has my fighting spirit, because my parents were given a death sentence for me when I was born 3 months early and I survived without any long term effects or problems.
I was able to go back and see Heidi and she was a bit groggy but doing well and they were getting ready to transfer her from Children's over to University for observation. It was a three block ambulance ride for her. In the meantime, we got a call that the Ronald McDonald House had an opening and we had to claim it by 2PM. So we were glad to be able to check out of the hotel. We enjoyed the hotel, but it was getting expensive. We went and got some lunch in the hospital cafeteria and then went to get everything moved from the hotel to the Ronald McDonald House and then went to see Heidi.
We finally got everything moved and then saw Heidi, she was doing remarkably well. The magnesium was not making here sick, she was not contracting and her vitals were good. Both boys heart rates were doing well. We went to get some dinner so she could get some rest. When we returned, we decided that my mother in law would stay with Heidi at the hospital since both boys were doing well and she would be discharged in the morning. It also gave my mother in law a chance to see the boys on a live ultrasound instead of printed pictures.
Sleep has been a fleeting thing, some nights we were able to sleep and others we could not because of different issues.
As everything was explained to us previously, the majority of the time would be spent mapping the placenta locating every vascular and arterial connection that is shared by both boys. Once that was complete, then they would go back and double check their work then start the laser coagulation process which takes a very short time.
Karen, the nurse practioner, who has been a great help to us during the process, was also in the operating room, she came out and told us when the procedure actually started. As always, my inquiring mind wanted to know what the largest number of connections that they have found in doing this procedure. Being naive, I thought maybe 100, but Karen told me that the most they have ever found was 14 connections. She told us that when they were completed, she would come back for us to meet with the Dr.
I was glad that my in-laws were here with us during this time. We could have never dealt with all of this without their help and support. Also, my brother-in-law who recently moved to Ohio came down to wait with us, along with a family friend from Springfield, OH. It is never easy to wait for a surgery to be completed, but at the same time, you want the Dr's to take their time and do their best possible job.
Before we knew it, our name was called around noon and we went back to meet with the Dr. During that meeting, he used a white board to explain the procedure and told us that there were 18 shared connections between Jonathan and Joseph. He also told us that there was one rather large vascular connection and they were a bit concerned because they coagulated it last and when they did, Jonathan's heart rate dropped to 35 and then rebounded to its normal rate. The Dr also told us that the next 12-24 hours were critical for Jonathan. I told the Dr that my son has my fighting spirit, because my parents were given a death sentence for me when I was born 3 months early and I survived without any long term effects or problems.
I was able to go back and see Heidi and she was a bit groggy but doing well and they were getting ready to transfer her from Children's over to University for observation. It was a three block ambulance ride for her. In the meantime, we got a call that the Ronald McDonald House had an opening and we had to claim it by 2PM. So we were glad to be able to check out of the hotel. We enjoyed the hotel, but it was getting expensive. We went and got some lunch in the hospital cafeteria and then went to get everything moved from the hotel to the Ronald McDonald House and then went to see Heidi.
We finally got everything moved and then saw Heidi, she was doing remarkably well. The magnesium was not making here sick, she was not contracting and her vitals were good. Both boys heart rates were doing well. We went to get some dinner so she could get some rest. When we returned, we decided that my mother in law would stay with Heidi at the hospital since both boys were doing well and she would be discharged in the morning. It also gave my mother in law a chance to see the boys on a live ultrasound instead of printed pictures.
Sleep has been a fleeting thing, some nights we were able to sleep and others we could not because of different issues.
posted by Terry Lange at 9:49 PM
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