HAPPY HEART DAY!!

As most of you know Mallory has a new heart. Today is also Scott's birthday-and Jeff's too! :)
All along Scott has said the best birthday gift would be Mallory getting her new heart. He got his birthday wish. She is doing great! I thought I'd just let you all know what our day was like today.

6:30am Call from the transplant coordinator, "We have a possible heart for Mallory" . We called Scott and the grandparents and told them the news, then grabbed a couple of things and headed to the hospital.

7:10am We checked in at admitting at SLCH and were directed to check into 7 west-the cardiac unit. All the rooms were full so they put us in the treatment room. this is a room they reserve for blood draws, etc. Mallory recognized exactly where we were so we did a lot of hall walking. Our upstairs neighbor, Avrey, who just got his heart last week, was in the room across the hall so we did some visiting. The nurses drew the needed labs, got the urine sample, I signed consent forms and spoke to both the harvesting and transplanting doctors. A chest x-ray was also taken. The transplant coordinators were also in to check on us and Becki from Child Life helped make the unpleasant things a little easier-yes, she brought in bubbles! We were told everything was scheduled to start at noon.

11:45am Our nurse Kelly walked us down to the surgery waiting area. The anestisiologist came in to have consent forms signed and explain the procedure from their end. I gave the OR nurses my digital camera and asked if they could take some pictures for me. I mostly wanted a picture of Dr. Gandi (sounds like candy) bringing the heart into the surgery suite. Jean, one of the OR nurses who was also with us on March 2nd said she would make sure great pictures were taken. it just so happens Jean's sister works at the Ronald McDonald house and they, along with everyone else, have been saying extra prayers for Mallory.

NOON: This was the hardest part of the day so far. I had to walk Mallory to the doors of the surgery suite and "hand her over" to Jean. They did not give her a sedative this time so Mallory was fully aware of what was happening. It was kind of like a movie. I gave Mallory big hugs and kisses from me and Daddy, handed her to Jean, and as Jean was walking through the doors and down the hall, Mallory was reaching for me over Jean's shoulder, arms outstretched, yelling "Mama, Mama, Hug, Hug" then the automatic doors closed.

1:30pm Daddy arrives at the Hospital!!!

1:45pm the OR nurse, Barbara, came to tell us Mallory went to sleep just fine and all the lines are in. they are just waiting for Dr. Gandi to visualize the donor heart and let them know if it was a go.

1:55pm Dr. Gandi said the donor heart looks good! Mallory's chest incision was made.

2:50pm The first team is out and Dr. Gandi is getting ready to remove the donor heart.

3:20pm Mallory was put on the by pass machine and the donor heart has arrived at SLCH! Jean and Dr. Gandi both stopped by to let us know how well Mallory was doing. Dr. Gandi had a huge smile on his face and said the donor heart is great!

3:30pm Barbara came in to let us know the donor heart is being sewed in and Mallory is doing very well and is such a strong little girl!

4:04pm Barb brought my digital camera in to show us what pictures she had taken so far. WOW! You wouldn't believe what we have.

5:05pm Mallory was off by pass machine, the new heart was beating on it's own, and Dr. Huddleston was getting ready to close her chest.

6:00pm Dr. Huddleston came in to let us know they were moving Mallory up to the PICU and she did great. He was very happy with how the surgery went.

7:30pm Mary, the PICU nurse came and got Scott and me. We got to see our baby for the first time since the transplant. SHE IS SO PINK! :) Scott noticed her toes first and I noticed the tip of her nose. There was no blue to be found! Mary kicked us out for another hour so she could get all of Mallory's lines, pacer wires and tubes all untangled.

8:30pm We got to see our baby for another hour and a half, and then Mary sent us back to the Ronald McDonal house with some specific instructions. "Eat, drink, and sleep. You have had a long day and will have an even longer week, so rest now and come back first thing in the morning". Mary also gave us her phone number and said to call her as many times as we want through the night. :) They were going to sedate mallory a bit more so she wouldn't fight the vent tube. Dr. Huddleston wants her to stay intabated overnight and rest and the goal is to get her off the vent first thing in the morning.

Thank you to everyone for all the prayers and notes you have sent us. We are so grateful to EVERYONE! I'll keep you updated!! Wendy