Mended Heart
Twenty-two years ago yesterday, our 5 month old baby Angela had open heart surgery to patch a hole between the ventricles in her heart. I don't always think about her operation on Nov 15 but this year the memory is so clear. Maybe it's because Angela is away travelling, experiencing new things that I have no part of. Perhaps it's because I met her cardiologist, Dr Patterson, on a street in Vancouver last week, randomly. I hadn't seen him in about 15 years.
For whatever reason, I am recalling that traumatic event and talking about it to friends, some of whom haven't heard the story before. I remember Angela's failure to thrive, lack of weight gain, infections, and dehydration leading up to the surgery date. She had so many medical tests and for 10 days had to be fed through a nasal gastric tube. She had medical students, doctors, and nurses poking and prodding her daily.
Surgery day came and went. Successful operation we were told. She'll be off the respirator in a day, out of ICU in 3 days, and home in 10-14 days they said. In reality, she was still on a respirator after a week. I had become an RN just over a year before. I knew there was reason for concern. I sat beside Angela's bed from early morning until late at night for days on end. Rudy would come to the hospital straight from work and we would sit and watch our sedated angel with her shaved head and tubes and wiring and monitors. I asked many questions of the nurses. I got the sense that Angela was not responding the way the medical staff expected. I told them what I thought needed to be done to change things, decreasing the valium for one. Again, Angela's body reacted in inexplicable ways. I wanted answers.
Angela was taken off the respirator on day 7 and transferred to a regular ward shortly after. She screamed for 36 hours straight with fisted hands, arched back, toes curled, and diarrhea. No one could tell me what was going on. I don't think the doctors were sure.
This is where Dr Patterson comes in. He had been on rounds before and had heard my concerns and tried to answer my questions. But on this particular day, post-op day 13 or so, he listened to the resident's report and then turned to me and asked me what I thought should be done. I said, "Let us take her home, she needs to be home." He said she's discharged. The resident doctor argued and Dr Patterson said, it's important to listen to the mother. Within an hour of being home, Rudy and I noticed a change in Angela, she smiled at us, she opened her hands, she relaxed her body and cuddled.
Angela hasn't had any problems with her heart since. She has been monitored regularly for years and everything is fine.
So this is a tribute and a thank you to Dr Patterson for being an amazing, intuitive, compassionate pediatric cardiologist.
And of course a tribute to Angela for being the beautiful, strong, sensitive woman that she has grown to be. Thank you for not giving up the fight.
For whatever reason, I am recalling that traumatic event and talking about it to friends, some of whom haven't heard the story before. I remember Angela's failure to thrive, lack of weight gain, infections, and dehydration leading up to the surgery date. She had so many medical tests and for 10 days had to be fed through a nasal gastric tube. She had medical students, doctors, and nurses poking and prodding her daily.
Surgery day came and went. Successful operation we were told. She'll be off the respirator in a day, out of ICU in 3 days, and home in 10-14 days they said. In reality, she was still on a respirator after a week. I had become an RN just over a year before. I knew there was reason for concern. I sat beside Angela's bed from early morning until late at night for days on end. Rudy would come to the hospital straight from work and we would sit and watch our sedated angel with her shaved head and tubes and wiring and monitors. I asked many questions of the nurses. I got the sense that Angela was not responding the way the medical staff expected. I told them what I thought needed to be done to change things, decreasing the valium for one. Again, Angela's body reacted in inexplicable ways. I wanted answers.
Angela was taken off the respirator on day 7 and transferred to a regular ward shortly after. She screamed for 36 hours straight with fisted hands, arched back, toes curled, and diarrhea. No one could tell me what was going on. I don't think the doctors were sure.
This is where Dr Patterson comes in. He had been on rounds before and had heard my concerns and tried to answer my questions. But on this particular day, post-op day 13 or so, he listened to the resident's report and then turned to me and asked me what I thought should be done. I said, "Let us take her home, she needs to be home." He said she's discharged. The resident doctor argued and Dr Patterson said, it's important to listen to the mother. Within an hour of being home, Rudy and I noticed a change in Angela, she smiled at us, she opened her hands, she relaxed her body and cuddled.
Angela hasn't had any problems with her heart since. She has been monitored regularly for years and everything is fine.
So this is a tribute and a thank you to Dr Patterson for being an amazing, intuitive, compassionate pediatric cardiologist.
And of course a tribute to Angela for being the beautiful, strong, sensitive woman that she has grown to be. Thank you for not giving up the fight.
posted by Mo at 10:26 PM
4 Comments:
I don't think I ever knew the story of Angela's early days.... you brought tears to my eyes, Mo. I can't imagine how worried you must have been then and how happy you were when things improved once at home. Even though I don't know Angela as well as I'd like to, I can tell she's a wonderful person... I hope to see her soon... my kids miss her.
Send her my affection when you speak to her next, ok? xo
Great story Mo; I especially love the happy ending.
I'm so glad you shared that story. I don't think I've heard it all from a mom's perspective. Angela has become such a gift to so many people.
There truly is no place like home. The body and soul are healed when we're surrounded by the familiar and those who love us. Angela knew this. Inspiring post. Thank you.
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