MRI #2

 Dylan went in for an MRI at Seattle Children's a couple of weeks ago, and we now have the results. It looks like it's time for a valve replacement.

On MRI day, I took Dylan fasting to the MRI clinic. We had a meeting with a couple of the cardiologists and Dylan consented to participate in a research study, where they were testing 4-D imaging. It resulted in 15 minutes longer in the tube, but a neat opportunity to help this new technology get tested. After getting his IV placed, they took him to imaging. 

He was in the MRI tube for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and he was a rockstar. MRIs on the heart include having to follow directions to hold your breath for long periods of time while they get the imaging needed. Dylan took all of it in stride. He was famished afterward, so we found some Chick-fil-A to eat on the way home.

The results: 4 years ago the MRI showed that his heart was "leaking" 50% of the blood backwards. Now it's up to 65%. In addition, he had a patch sewn in to repair the hole in his heart between the two pumping chambers when he was 5 months old. That area has become very stretched, and he has a pseudo aneurysm in that area. That's cause for concern. Also, we all have two arteries that take blood from the heart to our two lungs to get oxygen, and it's good for those arteries to be pretty balanced in the blood flow. Dylan's are now 30% on one side and 70% on the other, which isn't good.

What we are in the process of figuring out: 

• What kind of procedure could be done? (Trans-catheter, which would be pretty non-invasive and easier to recover from, or open heart surgery, which is much harder on the body and longer recovery times) 
• What kind of valve will he get? (He'll get a tissue valve....not sure if it will be from an animal or a human donor.) 
• When will this procedure happen? (Not sure yet....)
• Do we notice any signs of these changes in Dylan's heart? No. His heart is amazing. And his body has adjusted so well to these difficulties. But we want to do what is needed to keep him healthy before he starts to experience heart failure.

We have known that this would happen at some point, and we are so thankful for the 13 years that he has been able to live such an active, healthy life. And we're so thankful for the medical technology that is always advancing. What a blessing it is for him to be alive today, where there are doctors and procedures that can help him.

So, we are taking a big, deep breath, and moving forward. Here we go!

We'll share more information when we have his valve replacement scheduled. Thank you for all of the love, support, and prayers for this young man!