COOPER UPDATE….

This summer Coop has had a few "episodes" that were a little troubling and several incidents of severe chest pain so to say that we were surprised when we found out things he would be having another procedure this fall would not be very true.  We actually expected it.  On July 31st Coop went in for his 6 month appointment and they found that his valve was deteriorating quickly and there was more blood washing back through the valve than there was just 6 months ago.  That along with the other things made Dr. Kaine decide to proceed to yet another cardiac catheter.  However this one may be different.  Like always, they will go in and expand the arteries again for better blood flow and they will take a look around to see how things look from the inside.   This time however, if Coop's coronary system looks like it can handle it, they will attempt to insert the Melody Valve.  This is what we have been waiting for virtually since Coop was born.   

The Melody^® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve (TPV) is a heart valve attached to a stent (wire frame) that functions as an artificial pulmonary valve for patients with failed pulmonary valve conduits. The Melody valve was specifically designed for delivery to the cardiovascular system in a tube called a catheter.  The Melody valve contains a valve with three leaflets that are similar to a human heart valve attached to a stent (wire frame). It is designed to allow blood to flow freely from the heart’s right ventricle into the pulmonary arteries which lead to the lungs. 

The catch is that Coop is small, smaller than the smallest kid to receive it who weighed in at 80lbs.  Coop weighs 40lbs.  The risks are rupturing his current conduit, stint fractures, perforation of a major artery and a thousand other things that I cannot remember, do not understand or cannot pronounce.  However, looking at the alternative, open heart surgery, I think these risks are the most positive.  

So the way this will work is we will go in for pre-op on the 18th with surgery scheduled for the 24th.  They are bringing in a team of doctors that will evaluate things right there during surgery and decide on the spot exactly what they are going to do.  If everything goes perfectly we could be out the following day and Coop will have a Melody Valve.  If they go in on the 24th and do not think his coronary system can handle the Melody Valve, then we may be looking at open heart surgery yet again and let me tell you we DO NOT like the risks of that one.  Everything is in place in our lives from work to school for this but getting Coop ready may be a different story.  

It is always a little different each time we come up for a surgery because Coop is older and understands more and fears so much!  He has shown fear and nervousness and even expressed both verbally about his upcoming procedure.  He even asked Sissy if she would take care of Bear Bear and Blanky if he dies.  I know to most that would be devastating but for us it is just Coop preparing himself as well.  I think not knowing exactly what this surgery will hold is a little stressful as well but I know his team of doctors will make the best choice possible for him. 

Today I received a call from Cardiology stating that Coop's last dental cleaning and exam that was in late March was too long ago and we needed to have his teeth looked at again before his surgery and if he needed a cavity filled they would need to do that 6 weeks in advance.  Considering we are already inside that 6 month time frame they said I needed to get him in today and any work he needed done needed done today too.  I laughed at the thought of even getting him seen today but thankfully our dentist was amazing and assured me we would get it taken care of.  Luckily Coop had no cavities so the check up was all we needed.  

As always, we are surrounded by so much family and so many friends I feel like we walk on air most of the time.  We have to be the luckiest family alive, but we still are happy to take any extra prayers anyone might have!