Dear Family and Friends
The news from the hospital is GOOD!
At 2:30 PM yesterday, Grayson underwent a 4 hour procedure to replace his implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and both of the leads. (The ICD monitors the heart through a lead that is placed in the heart, and should therapy be needed, it can be administered through another lead.) Both leads had become compromised since their original placement in 2004 and needed to be removed. The battery in his ICD was also at end of life, therefore the device needed replacement. The ICD is surgically implanted in his left breast about 2 inches above his nipple and the leads run from the device, through a blood vessel into his heart. As you might imagine, this procedure is delicate and fraught with some risk. The procedure was done under general anesthesia.
The procedure was successful. Both of the old leads were successfully removed with no damage, new leads were placed, and a new ICD was successfully implanted and tested. Grayson is young relative to the general population that receive ICDs. As a result of his youthful, tight skin (ah don't some of us wish!), it is a bit more difficult to squeeze this additional stuff inside his breast and have the skin stretch over easily. It was accomplished, but we expect that Grayson will be more than a little sore when he wakes up.
Which brings up the next point. His team of physicians felt that recovery would be significantly enhanced should Grayson be kept out under mild sedation and comfortable with pain meds for 12 hours following the procedure. We concurred with their judgment. We saw Grayson after he arrived in the ICU for his overnight stay. He was sedated and sleeping, and looking angelic. He was on a ventilator as is protocol for the sedation. He showed some signs of discomfort, and pain medication was administered. Given that he was going to be kept in a sedated state overnight, Regina and I thought it best to get rest. We headed home to eat and get to bed. We'll be back at the hospital at 7:00 AM to be there to wean him off the sedation and to extubate him. Regina's presence is a great calming force for Grayson. She will manage his transition from sedation to awareness with great skill – as always!
So tonight Regina and I are both home, and I am minutes from going to bed. Tomorrow we expect to be a long day at the hospital, but we hope we will all be home tomorrow night. Stay tuned!
And while seemingly not a great birthday present, the gift of life is the best present of all. Happy Birthday, Grayson. We'll celebrate your birthday over the weekend!
Pax!
Brant
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