Maddox Larry Bulkley was born July 16, 2009 at 12:26 pm. He weighed in at 7 lbs 14 oz and 19 inches long. (a pound lighter than Bailee and an inch shorter).
We didn't expect him to stay in the NICU very long. I thought they'd clean him out and monitor her for awhile and then bring him back. But he wasn't responding to the treatment as well as they'd like so they were still trying to help him. It was hard to not be able to hold him or feed him the first night.
Friday morning he was still the same, so they started looking for some other answers. Around 11, they came in and said they thought something was going on with his heart but they wanted to send him to Primary Children's for a full diagnosis. So, they prepped him and life flighted him around 1.
When we got up to the hospital they had just finished the ECO and we found out that Maddox has a heart condition called Hypo-plastic left heart condition. Basically the left side of his heart is too small to pump blood to his body. They put him on some medication to keep fetal circulation open and have kept him in basically the state he was in the womb.
The left side of his heart will never work. They can't make it bigger. Next week they will be doing a surgery to help the right side of his heart preform the functions of both sides. This will be the first of 3 surgeries. The 2nd surgery will be around 2-3 months, and the 3rd one sometime after he turns 2.
At this point Maddox is stable and comfortable. The heart isn't causing pain, and the fetal circulation is working. We just wait to find out when the surgery will be and go from there.
To say the past few days have been rough is an understatement. BUT, we are so blessed to have amazing family, friends and support. We are also grateful to be so close to one of the best children's hospital in the country, and have such amazing medical staff available. We are also so very grateful to have the peace that comes from our Savior. We know that this is in God's hands, and that he will strengthen us and help us through wherever this takes us. We do appreciate all of the support and phone calls. There is a web page about Maddox that we will try and keep updated. Click on his picture and register and you'll be able to see what's going on.
Friday morning he was still the same, so they started looking for some other answers. Around 11, they came in and said they thought something was going on with his heart but they wanted to send him to Primary Children's for a full diagnosis. So, they prepped him and life flighted him around 1.
When we got up to the hospital they had just finished the ECO and we found out that Maddox has a heart condition called Hypo-plastic left heart condition. Basically the left side of his heart is too small to pump blood to his body. They put him on some medication to keep fetal circulation open and have kept him in basically the state he was in the womb.
The left side of his heart will never work. They can't make it bigger. Next week they will be doing a surgery to help the right side of his heart preform the functions of both sides. This will be the first of 3 surgeries. The 2nd surgery will be around 2-3 months, and the 3rd one sometime after he turns 2.
At this point Maddox is stable and comfortable. The heart isn't causing pain, and the fetal circulation is working. We just wait to find out when the surgery will be and go from there.
To say the past few days have been rough is an understatement. BUT, we are so blessed to have amazing family, friends and support. We are also grateful to be so close to one of the best children's hospital in the country, and have such amazing medical staff available. We are also so very grateful to have the peace that comes from our Savior. We know that this is in God's hands, and that he will strengthen us and help us through wherever this takes us. We do appreciate all of the support and phone calls. There is a web page about Maddox that we will try and keep updated. Click on his picture and register and you'll be able to see what's going on.
4 comments:
Wow, our prayers are with you guys!
~C
Dear Traci,
Having a baby in the NICU is rough, we know. The comforting thing is that at PCMC and UVRMC, he is in the best hands! We know that this means that his road is going to be long, thus, so will yours; but there are angels watching those babies in the NICU. Maddox has a huge support team behind him. We love you and are praying for you.
You and your little family are in my thoughts and prayers!!
Wow! What a roller coaster! I'm sorry that things have been rough, know that our prayers are with you. I'm glad that he is stable right now. You are amazing!
Post a Comment