Pics and Prayers

**********9/07/2009************

Isaac had his 39th surgery this week. They found out some things that we think will make life easier for him. They thought they were going to have to dilitate his esophagus again but found that it was wide open. They did find some scarring in the esophagus caused by stomach acid and prescribed Previcid. Of course I had to battle with the insurance company but they acquiesced eventually.

This surgery was at Scottish Rite and Dr. Cohen was the Gastro specialist.

Isaac was very brave. He kept telling everyone in the prep room that he was looking forward to his 40th surgery, because we would be having a big party!

**************08/08/08*****************************

Isaac had a procedure this week to try to determine whether or not he will need another spinal cord surgery.

The procedure involved a catheter and he was pretty much afraid the night before and of course was modest about the whole thing being the only boy in the room with his mom and the nurses (even the doctor was a girl) He was very brave though and it went well.

We will have the results on Monday morning when Nora takes him down to the doctor. It is very possible that the tethered cord has reattached itself and will need to be cut loose. It is rare but does indeed grow back. He is experiencing the tingle and sharp pains in his extremities and headaches. The doctor said that it wouldn't be an emergency at this point which is good because school starts on Monday.

Fred

**************************2005**********************

Isaac has been having follow up visits with all of his Doctors. He had an upper GI and an MRI in the last couple of weeks and we are looking for great results. The GI Doctor put him on a medicine that is like a fiber that solidifies his stool and he seems to responding well to this. Isaac is having a Sabbath year... his first year without a major surgery. Praise God!

***********2004****************************************

The pictures below are 3-D pictures of Isaac’s heart from the MRI today. Below these is an email from Nora about the results of the MRI today at the Sibley Heart Center.

If you look closely at the center of the picture you can see the area she describes; it is an aortic circle and must be corrected to enable proper blood flow. (The esophagus actually passes through this circle, although it can not be seen on this image. AND this can stricture the esophagus!)

We know we are to be here in Atlanta…. Please pray for Isaac and our family.

Someone asked me this weekend if I was “hanging in” but the best we can do right now is to Press in…and Press onward.

fred

Click on Images to enlarge.

We found out today that Isaac does in fact need heart surgery. This is something he has had most of his life. What they are calling it is a circular aortic arch. We are all born with 6 of them. As we mature all of them but one disappears. Instead of Isaac's disappearing it connected itself to another arch which created the circle. Because they had to piece the esophagus together and connect it to the stomach the location of the esophagus is different from everyone else's.

The esophagus just so happens to be in the middle of this circle. The Dr. thought that we probably had the "carrot" emergency because there wasn't enough room for it to pass because of where the tightening is by the heart.

The Dr. showed me Isaac's heart in 3-D. It was amazing. I could see what the problem was and what they have to do to fix it. This surgery is not an emergency. Matter-of-factly we are scheduled for another MRI on my son's spine. They want to check the excess fluid in his spine. If they find that it has increased from last year they will operate and put a shunt in to drain the fluid.

I asked the Doctor tonight what is next. He said that they have a team of Dr.'s that will be reviewing Isaac's case and will determine what should be done first.

So, please pray that God sends in his BEST surgeon’s to do "HIS" Handy work! I have to say that I felt very confident that we were at the best hospital for Isaac to get what he needs. He was at Emory - Sibley Heart Institute. They sent home a 3-D picture of Isaac's heart so I could explain to my husband what exactly the Dr. had said to me. It is really easy to see with the new technology.

That is all the news for right now. It's in God's hands.

P.S. Could you please pray for HILARY AND LUKE; they are a little FREAKED by the news. They are not saying much but their eyes are very big.

Thanks so much.

Nora and Family

How Isaac did yesterday, from Nora

Isaac was so excited to go to school today and share all the cool things that he got at the MRI place. They gave him 4 lizards; 3 stickers (Spiderman and finding Nemo) and he got a ocean - fish - water thing. That was pretty cool - it was like the ocean waves in a jar that we have all made in school. But this one had two dolphins swimming in it. I do say that he made out. :)

I just love how they treated Isaac over there. He started this procedure FREAKING out about being weighed. Crying big tears, Kicking, screaming etc. The Dr. on duty said that if he stood on the scale that he would get a lizard. Isaac stopped and thought about it. Then he asked for two lizards. What a kid! :)

Then the female Dr. and Isaac talked about how cool lizards were and how hard they were to catch. They exchanged lizard stories. It was too funny to listen to. Isaac was so serious about the lizard stuff. This Dr. connected with something near and dear to Isaac's heart. Isaac shared that he was too slow to catch the lizards but Luke (his brother) was good at it. The Dr. said that she was too slow too. They were really fast animals etc. IT WAS GREAT!!! to see the two of them having this heart to heart about lizards.

Then came the IV the Doctor said that he would give Isaac another lizard if he didn't kick and scream when they did this. We had to hold him down but he did his best to be calm. Isaac did calm down once the IV was in place. He even smiled as he looked at his arm and said "Hey, that didn't even hurt"! (the nurse gave him a topical that numbed the skin where they put the needle in). Then he said "Lizard please!!" I have calmed down now" So, the Doctor handed over another lizard and a sticker.

When Isaac came out of his deep sleep the first words out of his mouth were "I DID GOOD TODAY! GIVE ME A LIZARD PLEASE!" He had a big smile on his face. He didn't even have his eyes open yet when he did all this talking. I wondered if he was awake. The nurse laughed and gave him another lizard and another sticker.

The Doctor was great about explaining everything to me. They even took me in the back were the computers are and showed me everything they took a picture of and sent me home with (2) 8 x 10's of Isaac's heart so I could show everyone what was going one.

I'm confident that we are in good hands with the Doctors and the hospital. This was the biggest hospital we've ever been in. They are expanding the hospital facility too. Lots of construction going on. They have the good technology. I'm thankful.

Just wanted you all to know how Isaac acted yesterday. He was so cool! Just thought I would share.

Nora and Family

Issac and his family moved to Cumming GA over the Holidays last year!!! more to come later... and what a year it has been Isaac is 5 and going to regular school... Look at this link to see the power point we showed the children in his class to help diffuse Isaac being treated differently... It worked!

ISAAC OUR GIFT FROM GOD