Tim's Variety Plate: Blog Update

June 22, 2011

Blog Update

A friend of ours was kind enough to start this blog for us a few years ago to help us share Tim's medical updates with family and friends. It has proven to be an excellent tool and outlet for our family. However, several people have told me that they often wonder how we are doing in between medical updates. I find it hard to believe anyone is interested in our surburban life, but I'm going to try to post more, non-medical updates. It's a good way to document what is happening, and those that are interested can follow along!

1 comment:

BroadwayGirl said...: Hoping Timmy and your family are all doing well. I miss reading updates, but I guess that is good news. As always, sending love and prayers to you all.; September 24, 2011 at 3:16 PM

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About Tim's Heart

Tim suffered from a rare heart condition in which the lower half of his heart operates in reverse. Instead of the stronger half of his heart pumping blood to his body, it is serving his lungs. And the weaker half is working in overdrive to pump blood to his body. Tim also was born with other heart defects. A hole in his heart was repaired when he was just 5 months old. During that same surgery, a pacemaker was installed to remedy an irregular heartbeat.

Over the next 2 years, Tim had 3 surgeries to prepare him for the complicated "Double Switch" procedure. This complicated surgery disconnects major blood vessels from the heart chambers they are currently attached to and reconnects them to the correct chambers. Tim underwent this procedure in June, 2010. While the surgery successfully reconfigured the vessels, his heart did not recover fully and he was in heart failure.

On June 20, 2012 Tim received a heart transplant after nearly a month of hospitalization as a result of a cardiac event that happened on May 30. Since transplant Tim has recovered well, with no signs of rejection to date. He is currently awaiting discharge from the hospital.

Despite his diagnosis, Tim has always lived a very full and relatively normal life for a 5 year old boy. We will continue keep in close contact with his cardiology team, and he is on several medications daily to prevent rejection of his new heart. While our family has gotten past a significant hurdle there is still the possibility of additional surgery or hospitalizations in Tim's future. Regardless, we have always focused on making the most of the day to day and try to enjoy the simple things the best we can.