His future's so bright...

...he's gotta wear shades!

Ethan has had quite the stellar day. It all started with a visit to our beloved cardiologist, Dr. I. We never know what to think when we go in for these check-ups. Obviously, there are no MAJOR problems, but there are so many little things that could be going on, and have the potential to turn into something big. Ethan got the complete work-up today in preparation for his surgery in a couple of weeks: EKG, echo, pacemaker interrogation, and chest x-ray. We don't know the results of the x-ray yet, but everything else checked out beautifully. To say that today's appointment went well would be an understatement.

I was absolutely ecstatic when Dr. I came in to give us the results of the echo. "His heart function looks great," he said. Doubting what I just heard, I asked for clarification, "So, you mean the other 3 chambers look great, but the function of the right ventricle is still diminished, right?". He looked up at me, with a bit of a grin, shrugged his shoulders and said, "No. I mean, it looks great." Holy freakin' cow. Praise GOD!! I did a bit of a happy dance, thanking God for hearing my prayers. Ever since Ethan coded I've been praying for restored heart function, especially for that over-worked right ventricle. Dr. I's words were music to our ears, an answer to prayer, and evidence of miracles all around us. I am absolutely in awe.

Ethan's heart is doing so well that he has been cleared for surgery and isn't scheduled to see Dr. I for 3 months! As if all of that wasn't good enough, he also gave us orders to stop Enalapril, a heart medicine he has been on, basically, since birth. Do you know what this means?!

No?

Well, let me tell you. This means that Ethan is now on ZERO heart medications, other than a 1/2 of a baby aspirin to make sure his conduit doesn't become occluded. That, my friends, is nothing short of amazing. Absolutely, positively, 110% amazing.

Probably the lowest blow of the appointment was hearing from Dr. I that Dr. Jaggers, Ethan's incredible heart surgeon, will be leaving Duke. My heart sinks, and I get all teary-eyed, just at the thought of it. The bond between a heart family and their surgeon is indescribable; I pray that God will bring the right person to Duke to replace, what I view to be, someone who is irreplaceable.

One last little tid-bit for you. During Ethan's echo, the technician wondered out loud about how many of those he's had up to this point. We all joked about what the number could be, and I guess curiosity got the best of her. A few minutes after we were back in our room, she peeked around the door and said, "An even 24." WOW!

Ethan's 1st echo at Dr. I's office - May 21, 2009

Today's echo - March 2, 2010

Crazy, huh?!

Thanks for checking in; we also saw Ethan's orthopedic surgeon this afternoon, but that update will have to wait for now. We've got some last minute things to take care of for Ethan's upcoming birthday bash....I can't wait!!