about jacob.. (kind of long)

so, let me tell you about Friday and all the dr appts.. 

so much information to take in, most of which I had already heard or was aware of, but it is some how different when it comes right from the drs. mouths.

baby Jacob has a few serious things going on. first there is the CDH, congenital diaphragmatic hernia.  This is where there is a hole in the diaphragm and organs float up into the chest cavity blocking  growth of the lungs.  In Jacobs case, his stomach and intestines have migrated to his chest and as a result, his left lung has had very little room to grow and his heart has been pushed over to the right.  and now part of his liver is trying to move up also.  It is unknown how affected his right lung will be.  It will be smaller then normal but we dont know exactly how small until he is born. His left lung will probably be very very small and not of much use to him.

Jacob also has some heart defects.  He has "double outlet right ventricle", and "ventricular septal defect" and they were also talking about "tetralogy of flow".  basically he has a hole in his heart and the arteries coming from his heart appear to be very thin.  I dont know how to explain it, but feel free to google any of those terms. 

so when baby jacob is born, he will need to go directly on a ventilator and he will be given medication to keep the narrow arteries  open.  as soon as he is stable (24 hours to a couple of days) he will have surgery to put the organs where they go and to close the hernia.  when that happens the heart should shift back over to the left side.  He may need to go on an ecmo machine, which is a heart and lung bypass machine that pumps blood out of the body, oxygenates it and pumps it back in.  The ecmo machine attaches at the neck into the juggler vein and the artery right next to it.  He can only be on the machine for about 2 weeks and if he doesnt improve in that time, he probably isnt going to and probably wouldnt make it.  The problem with the ecmo machine is that the arteries that it uses are compromised and dont work afterwords and they wont ever work again.  This causes a higher risk for strokes. 

When Jacob is recovered from that surgery, he will have the heart surgery required to fix his heart.

It is possible that either of these surgeries could require other surgeries as a result..  

Jacob will live with one lung.  He could have some delays if there is a lack of oxygen to his brain, from minor learning disabilities to more serious mental retardation.  

Or things could go smoothly, his right lung could be in great shape and maybe we will be really lucky!

the dr mentioned that  putting the stomach and bowels back could be difficult as there might not be enough room for them.  Jacobs body has been developing with out them in place, so he may have a small belly.

It was a very informative but very draining day.  we left at 8:30 and didnt get home until 5:30.  we had time just to go to the appts and for a quick lunch. 

so my precious bloggy friends, please put Jacob on your prayer lists and keep him in your thoughts.  have your friends pray for him.. post this button on your blogs, with a link to this blog post.. 

he needs lots of prayers. 

Im praying that he will be able to live a completely normal life and that he will not need the ecmo machine.  I'm praying for complete healing for Jacob, and also that Vanessa and Tony will handle this with grace and and feel supported.  Jacob will be in the hospital probably for at least 3 months.  at least.. he will be at strong hospital in rochester, an hour away.  They can stay at the ronald mcdonald house, but tony is going to have to go to work...   Vanessa is due June 8th.  

thanks for your prayers girls.. and for spreading the word! 

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