My best friend just had a baby last Tuesday. Owen was born at 3:06 pm and he was 8lbs 15 oz. He is so beautiful! They just found out today that he has two heart defects and an aortic coarctation. He is unconscious and has to have surgery once he is stable enough to survive it.
Does anyone know anything about this condition? or any heart conditions in newborns? He's not even a week old, the poor little thing... please pray for them, he is their first baby. I feel so bad, and she lives 150 miles away, I can't even be there for her.
Thank you for your thoughts. I really believe that prayer will help... I thought all of you wonderful ladies would help him!!
antoinette
Posted:
Member since
Re: Congenital Heart Defect--aortic coarctation?
I have no advice but Im so sorry to hear that. Lots of prayers
Florenze
Posted:
Member since
Re: Congenital Heart Defect--aortic coarctation?
Sorry to hear about your friend's baby. I worked as a nurse in Columbia's PICU and we saw MANY infants with this problem. Surgery is needed to correct the problem. Many babies do quite well after they recover from surgery. Either way it does suck to have a sick child my heart goes out to your friend and her little angel.
Danielle
Posted:
Member since
Re: Congenital Heart Defect--aortic coarctation?
Thank you so much!! it is really uplifting to hear that a lot of babies do well after this.
I feel a little better now, I have been looking up this defect online... I wish I knew what the other two defects are... He's such a little sweetie
I don't even know what to say to her. I don't want to call too much and be annoying, but I want her to know I am there for her. I wish I could go there, but I can't take time off from my job.
Keep little Owen in your thoughts.
soon2bMrs
Posted:
Member since
Re: Congenital Heart Defect--aortic coarctation?
Prayers for your friend and her baby.
ambersmom
Posted:
Member since
Re: Congenital Heart Defect--aortic coarctation?
I'm so sorry to hear about little Owen - our prayers are with him
Florenze
Posted:
Member since
Re: Congenital Heart Defect--aortic coarctation?
Do you know where the baby is having the surgery? At Columbia in some cases COA where repaired via cardiac catherization, which is less invassive. But again it depends on the instituation and what are the other heart defects. Coarcs are usually 'paired' with patent ductouis aterious (sp?) and ventricle defects. All of which are operable.
It is devasting to have a baby that has any defect. I would send her a card and let her know that you care and are thinking about her and Owen. Your friend is going to have a tough time and she will NEED all the support she can get. Keep us posted on Baby Owen. He is in our prayers.
Danielle
Posted:
Member since
Re: Congenital Heart Defect--aortic coarctation?
I finally just talked to her and he has two holes in his heart and the coarc. He is suffering from acidosis, he isnt getting enough oxygen, and his kidneys have shut down. They are trying to figure out how to proceed, since all of these problems are affecting each other.
He is at CHOP--Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
I just got a call from the father's sister... it's not good... he started having seizures and hemmorhages (class B?) on the brain. They are trying to control the seizures so that they can do the surgery on the heart, but even if they do get to operate, he will have sever brain damage and very bad cerebral palsy.
They have to decide what to do. A neurologist is coming in Saturday to talk with them.
I'm so heartbroken for my friend, I'm going to drive to Philly tomorrow or sat morning to see them.
I don't know what to do or say. Is it stupid to bring them a little teddy bear for him?
Thank you so much for your concern. Danielle
merf99
Posted:
Member since
Re: Congenital Heart Defect--aortic coarctation?
My heart goes out to your friend. I am so sorry- noone should ever have to see their new baby go through this!
Dee7772
Posted:
Member since
Re: Congenital Heart Defect--aortic coarctation?
Posted by Danielle
I just got a call from the father's sister... it's not good... he started having seizures and hemmorhages (class B?) on the brain. They are trying to control the seizures so that they can do the surgery on the heart, but even if they do get to operate, he will have sever brain damage and very bad cerebral palsy.
They have to decide what to do. A neurologist is coming in Saturday to talk with them.
I'm so heartbroken for my friend, I'm going to drive to Philly tomorrow or sat morning to see them.
I don't know what to do or say. Is it stupid to bring them a little teddy bear for him?
Thank you so much for your concern. Danielle
I am so sorry to hear about your friends baby. They are all in my prayers. You sound like a really great friend and she is really lucky to have you in her life.
Thank you for your well wishes. Owen passed away this morning at 2am. He started having seizures and then a brain hemmorhage, and he went into cardiac arrest. They decided to hold him in their arms as they let him go, they didn't want to shock him and make him suffer any more. He would have been severely brain damaged if he survived long enough to have the surgery, and would have had cerebral palsy. They decided in the end that it was best not to prolong his suffering.
I am going down to Philly for two days this weekend and then going back Monday night for the wake and funeral.
Please keep them in your prayers. I can't believe he's gone and I never got to meet him.
Oh my I am so sorry! I don't know what to say except that I am truly sorry for your friends lost. I can imagine the pain your friend is going through. No one knows a mothers love until you have a child. Wow, I am in tears!
Thank you so much. I cried every time I told someone at work today. This weekend is going to be so hard, but I really want to go there and be with her.
I really don't know what I'll say... I guess nobody would know.
Do you think if I bought him a little stuffed bear to bury him with, that is too morbid? I was going to buy him a bear when I was going to visit him, now he'll never have one... I don't know.
