The Best News We’ve Had in 10+ Years
January 30, 2010
The History: Dylan’s basic background is that he had Kawasaki’s Disease as an infant, and as a result, ended up with 2 aneurysms in his little heart. Lucky for us, there are two kinds of aneurysms, and he was blessed to get the kind that are spindle shaped (instead of round) and as his arteries grow, he will “grow into” his aneurysms, and barring any scar tissue, should heal nicely by age 13. He grew into one of them a couple of years ago, so he had one left as far as we knew.
The main worry (besides a rupture) was that if he didn’t grow into these aneurysms, he would need open heart surgery once he reaches adulthood. Here is the detailed background of his ordeal if you’re so interested.
If you are a close friend or family, you already know what I’m about to say.
Yesterday I took Dylan to his annual cardiology appointment. I slept maybe 3 hours the night before. I worry a lot about these appointments because somewhere along the line a doctor missed an entire aneurysm and pulled him off of aspirin for a year back when Dylan was 7-8 years old.
We met his new cardiologist and he had his full work up: EKG, ultrasound, etc.
The clinical run-down: The doc is cautiously optimistic. He said his previously affected coronary artery grew to the size of the remaining aneurysm which means he has NO ANEURYSMS NOW! Yay!
Part of the coronary artery is behind the heart so they can’t see the entire thing. Hence the ‘cautiously optimistic’ verdict. Rather than give him a cardiac catherization (running dye thru his heart), we all decided to keep him on asprin to continue to prevent scar tissue. It’s basically a better safe than sorry move and it has no side effects (no stomach pain and Dylan does not easily bruise). They scheduled a stress test (treadmill test basically) for May and the doc pushed the annual work-up (what we had yesterday) to 18 months. So summer 2011 they will repeat the workup and get another good look at his artery.
Daren and I couldn’t be more thrilled with yesterday’s findings and also with the care plan in place. It seems really solid.
The emotional run-down: We are obviously so very happy. Our son is no longer a ticking time bomb. His heart is 99% close to normal. Whole. Solid. I’m typing through happy tears. I can’t stop hugging the poor kid. Thankfully he’s only 11 and still hugs back. Then he asks me for something to eat for the 45th time in a day.
P.s. Dylan is also 5 feet tall now according to today’s measurements. Uhhh where did our baby go?
January 30th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
I can’t even begin to imagine how you are feeling.
I’m willing to bet it has something to do with lightness of shoulders and a new-found appreciation of clouds. So happy for you.
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January 30th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
YAY!!!!
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January 30th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Congratulations! I love good news! And what a wonderful gift for you guys! Tears of joy.
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January 30th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
OMG!! So happy for you!!!!!!
That is the best news!
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January 30th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Congratulations!! Can only imagine what you’ve been going through. Thrilled for you!!!
.-= Maria @BOREDmommy´s last blog ..Use Your Voice =-.
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January 30th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
What relief you must feel! Fabulous news!
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January 30th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Such amazing news! Congratulations!
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January 30th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Awesome, awesome news!! Congratulations to all of you!
.-= bejewell´s last blog ..The Post With Lots of “Buts” and One Unusually Tiny Head =-.
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January 30th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
So, so, happy for you!
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January 30th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Oh that is great news. I’m thrilled for you.
On the height? My brothers could pat my mom on her head at 12 years old. It’s like overnight they grew to be 6ft tall.
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January 30th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Being the mom of a kid with heart problems myself, I can only say I just did a little happy jig for you while I cried.
That is fucking awesome news and I couldn’t be more excited for you. I think people don’t realize the emotional toll it takes without you even realizing the pressure is there until it eases a little.
SO SO SO SO HAPPY! xoxoxoxoxox
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January 30th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
xoxo. for you all!
.-= Chrissi´s last blog ..busy momma =-.
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January 30th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
That post brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing your touching and personal life with the world. Congratulations to your whole family. Squeeze that boy every day and force him to squeeze you back when he decides it’s no longer cool to show affection to the number one girl in his life.
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January 30th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
What incredible, wonderful, awesome news!!! I’m so happy for you all!!!
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January 30th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
YAY!!! Such good news. I will continue to pray for a healthy heart!
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January 30th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Thrilled for you all, sweetheart. Thrilled. I understand how nerve-wracking this kind of thing can be.
The body never ceases to amaze me. And kid’s bodies are the most amazing creations of all. What they can endure and still thrive in spite of is stunning and humbling.
.-= Finn´s last blog ..Diptych Four: Green =-.
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January 30th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Yay that is great news!!
So happy for you all.
.-= J from Ireland´s last blog ..Is it a good thing or a bad thing???? =-.
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January 30th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
GREAT news!!!
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January 30th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Great news!
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January 30th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
OMG! So happy for you and your family!!! As a mom with health challenged kids myself, I know the ache of wanting things to go right when at the Dr’s and the sleepless nights right before. Such awesome news!!
.-= Blondefabulous´s last blog ..Vroom!! =-.
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January 30th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Wonderful news!
Hope your (cautiously) celebrating…
.-= Nat´s last blog ..Doing good things… =-.
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January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Fantastic news Karen !
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January 30th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Big, happy, giddy hugs and kisses for all of you! WOOOOOOOT!
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January 30th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
My cousin had this when he was wee. It was undiagnosed for ages till ONE smart doc figured it out.
I have to say he is a HUGE strapping 18 year old now.
It never slowed him down..
Hugs to you guys!
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January 30th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Karen, that is absolutely (cautiously) awesome. So happy for you and for Dylan.
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January 30th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Wow…how unbelievably scary this whole journey must be for you! I am so happy to read the good news and pray that he continues to improve as he grows. *hug*
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January 30th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
So very glad for you! My boyfriend’s little brother has a heart condition, so I sort of know how very terrifying all of this is. Tony is a mostly normal almost-12yo now. I am so thankful that Dylan is doing well, too!
.-= Elizabeth Kaylene´s last blog ..Squirt vs Apollo =-.
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January 30th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Hoo-ray!
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January 30th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
That must be a dump-truck load off your mind! Yay.
.-= Suebob´s last blog ..I Feel Like the Luckiest Woman in the World Right Now =-.
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January 31st, 2010 at 1:23 am
That’s awesome. I’m so happy for you, Twinkles.
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January 31st, 2010 at 1:33 am
holy cow, this is awesome!!
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January 31st, 2010 at 2:57 am
Oh my god, Karen! What AWESOME news!
So, so happy for you all. <3
.-= Chibi Jeebs´s last blog ..Friday Brain Dump =-.
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January 31st, 2010 at 6:09 am
Hurray, hurray, hurray!
Congratulations Dylan’s heart.
So happy for all of you.
.-= Nina´s last blog ..Lazytown =-.
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January 31st, 2010 at 8:26 am
I am so happy for you.
Like, I’m snoopy dancing in my chair, happy!
.-= Hilly´s last blog ..That’s The Time You Must Keep On Trying… =-.
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January 31st, 2010 at 4:03 pm
Great news for you all Karen. Such a relief not to need open heart surgery or catheterisation.
Unless you’ve been through something like this it’s hard to imagine what it feels like. So pleased for you.
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January 31st, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Awesome news. Nice to have this to help lift the worry and burden off your shoulders.
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January 31st, 2010 at 8:30 pm
That is such great news, Karen. I am so happy for all of you.
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January 31st, 2010 at 9:27 pm
What awesome news!! YAY for all of you!
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February 1st, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Yeah!
.-= Ren´s last blog ..Macro Monday #47 =-.
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February 1st, 2010 at 2:30 pm
I am so happy for you, my friend. So happy!
XOXOXXOXOX
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February 1st, 2010 at 5:42 pm
WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
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February 1st, 2010 at 5:55 pm
How wonderful! That is great news!
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February 2nd, 2010 at 8:27 pm
I finally got to read this – and the detailed version. Oh Karen! Thank God thank God thank God!!!!!
And lol – yes – thank God he is still young enough to hug back. Otherwise, I think you might have tackled the poor guy. Or tried. Five feet????? Yikes!
.-= Nanna´s last blog ..I Believe… =-.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 3:12 am
Sorry I’m so late here but OMG how freaking exciting IS THIS. So so so happy for all of you!!
xoxo
.-= Miss´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday – Hide and Seek =-.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 12:56 pm
it doesn’t get better than that.
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February 3rd, 2010 at 11:20 pm
This is amazing news. I’m so happy for you all.
.-= Patti´s last blog ..Amazing Mind =-.
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February 4th, 2010 at 10:03 am
xoxo
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February 5th, 2010 at 5:57 am
I can only imagine the relief you are feeling right now.
Freaking AWESOME news!
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February 6th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Love hearing such good news. You all deserve this break.
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February 7th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Congratulations to all of you. What a huge sigh of relief. Great, great news.
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February 7th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
That is fantastic news!
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February 9th, 2010 at 1:20 am
THAT IS AWESOME NEWS, Karen!!!!!!! I am so happy for you guys!!!!
*HUGS*
.-= Tracy´s last blog ..Happy Birthday C!!! =-.
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February 11th, 2010 at 5:30 am
Wow, that’s fantastic! Congratulations to your family on this happy news.
*hugs*
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February 11th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
you’ve mainlined a bullet of awesome. i’m so glad for you and for your family. good lord. what a thing to celebrate.
yayayyyyyyy!!!
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February 13th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
oh Karen, that is such good news!!! Sending big virtual hugs to all of you!
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February 18th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Karen, what wonderful news! I celebrate with you.
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