Justin's Heart Update 2004

Dear Family and Friends,

With happy hearts, we share the following good news after Justin’s cardiologist checkups…

After a not-so-bright outlook at the last checkup in 2003, we were prepared for anything this time. Although Justin shows more than enough energy for his age, we know that often it is the more long-term effects on the heart that they look at, so we were mentally prepared for them to want to do any surgeries while he is doing well and before any long-term damage has been done.

However, even knowing that he was doing well, we were more than surprised at the wonderful news that we received. Justin’s oxygen saturation levels were at 98% for the first time in his life!! That is very much a “normal” level (98 to 100%), whereas when he came home as a baby, his levels were in the upper 70% and low 80% area.

For the first time, they have completely removed the possibility of the surgery to reroute some of his blood directly to the lungs to take workload off the right side of the heart. That means that he will officially have a 4-chamber heart for life…wonderful news to our ears!

Also, we were finally given some timeframes for when we might expect any procedures (rather than having a general “sooner or later” hanging over our heads). Justin will not have ANY procedures in the next 2 years. At that time we will start talking about closing the unrepaired hole between his two upper chambers (ASD). They originally enlarged that hole when he was a baby to allow him a “pressure release” when he cried or exerted himself a lot. By age 6 he will no longer need that outlet, and since they are not looking at other open-heart procedures before then, they can close that hole with a catheter. That procedure involves an umbrella device that they insert and then open to cover the hole. Over time, the heart tissue will grow over the device, creating a solid wall where the hole is.

Finally, we even have good news regarding the leaky pulmonary valve. Whereas previous visits indicated an artificial valve would be necessary sooner or later, his cardiologist cannot say that Justin will definitely need his valve replaced. He also cannot assure us that he will not, so that is something that they will continue to monitor. However, he did assure us that the earliest he would need that surgery would be at 8 or 10 years of age. So, we now have several years of breathing room, and a huge weight off our shoulders.

To put everything in perspective, and to give God the praise for answered prayers, here is the quote from the cardiologist:

“If someone had told me four years ago that a baby would come in with the condition Justin had and the severity, and that four years later he would have the kind of results that we see today, and that he would not have any surgeries beyond the original cath procedure, I WOULD NOT HAVE BELIEVED THEM…. for a child to have the kind of results Justin has and not to have any surgeries--IT JUST DOESN’T HAPPEN!!”

In addition to this kind of news, we had a fetal echocardiogram to test our expected (due Dec. 13) baby girl's heart (yes, they were quite sure this looks to be a girl!), which resulted in good news, as well. They can assure us that the baby has no major heart defects, and although there are a few problems that this test cannot pick up and a few that could develop later in the pregnancy or at birth, there are no indications that there should be any heart issues, and “nothing like Justin’s.” The cardiologist who performed this test had reviewed Justin’s case, and she commented three or four times about what amazing results we had gotten the day before with Justin’s echo. She said, “You are REALLY LUCKY!” And, as others have said, we know that luck is not quite the right word, as we are really BLESSED.

Even more than before, we thank everyone for the many prayers that have gone up on Justin’s behalf. We truly believe that we are seeing answers to those prayers, and that we are fortunate enough that God has seen fit to bless us with the kind of results we are seeing. THANK YOU!!!

Much love,
Toby, Sharon, Justin, and Baby Girl Dunn

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