Now that Aaron is home he's much more comfortable. He still needs to get his antibiotics every day for another six weeks or so. Today he went to the hospital to receive them. While he was there they arranged to have the medicine delivered here so he can administer it to himself. That makes everything so much more convenient. He gets a week of treatments and doesn't need to sit in the hospital to get them. One more step to getting healthy.
After talking to Aaron today I realized how close to tragedy he came. A few more days and we probably would have lost him. One of the doctors spent several minutes impressing that fact on his mind. Modern medicine is truly a miracle. If not for that he would have surely died, regardless of when he got to the hospital. We are very grateful.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Home Again!
Right this very moment Aaron is sitting in my parents' kitchen. Gone are the hospital gown and pants. He still has the PICC line because he will continue to get antibiotics every day. For a while he'll be staying at my parents' house. I'm not sure how long that will be. It is infinitely more pleasant than staying in the hospital. We're glad he's home!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Tomorrow
It looks like tomorrow (Wednesday) could be the day Aaron is released. Yahoo! The doctors have decided against the surgery because his heart is stronger and functioning better than they originally thought. Miracles are such wonderful things. I didn't ask Aaron today if there was an estimate on when in the future he could expect that surgery. We can just hope it never becomes problematic.
We're all excited that Aaron should be out of the hospital soon! The nine days thus far are more than enough.
We're all excited that Aaron should be out of the hospital soon! The nine days thus far are more than enough.
On to the Kidneys
Aaron called around 7:45 this morning to give us an update on what the doctors said. Two had already been in that morning to talk to him about his kidneys. He didn't elaborate much on what they said except that if his kidneys were functioning how they wanted they would probably release him today. It doesn't seem to be any more serious than making sure he drinks a lot of water today. Hopefully it clears up quickly.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Still Not Yet
Sadly there is no new information regarding the possibility of the valve replacement surgery. It's looking like they won't go through with it, but we haven't gotten that word yet for sure.
As for the hospital stay...it's going to last until Wednesday evening at the very earliest. The infectious disease doctor told Aaron his white blood cell count was up after he went off the antibiotics. He's off penicillin and vancomycin, but they put him on another broad spectrum antibiotic (I don't know which one) to try to take care of whatever is after him. Blood was drawn to make cultures and those take two days for results.
We're very grateful that Aaron is comparatively healthy throughout the process. He looked a little pale when we saw him yesterday, but that was likely because he went for his first "walk" since arriving at the hospital. He's been limited to trips to the bathroom for most of the time. We only walked as far as the lobby because Andrew, Charlotte, and Daphne came just as we got to the elevators. It's just a blessing to us that we can walk the halls with smiles on our faces. It seems like every time I go visit him there is another patient's family member in the hall with tear-stained cheeks and red eyes. I feel for them because I know that it could easily be us. I remember what it was like to be that person when it was my dad in the hospital. We just keep praying that the doctors will do what's best to keep Aaron healthy.
As for the hospital stay...it's going to last until Wednesday evening at the very earliest. The infectious disease doctor told Aaron his white blood cell count was up after he went off the antibiotics. He's off penicillin and vancomycin, but they put him on another broad spectrum antibiotic (I don't know which one) to try to take care of whatever is after him. Blood was drawn to make cultures and those take two days for results.
We're very grateful that Aaron is comparatively healthy throughout the process. He looked a little pale when we saw him yesterday, but that was likely because he went for his first "walk" since arriving at the hospital. He's been limited to trips to the bathroom for most of the time. We only walked as far as the lobby because Andrew, Charlotte, and Daphne came just as we got to the elevators. It's just a blessing to us that we can walk the halls with smiles on our faces. It seems like every time I go visit him there is another patient's family member in the hall with tear-stained cheeks and red eyes. I feel for them because I know that it could easily be us. I remember what it was like to be that person when it was my dad in the hospital. We just keep praying that the doctors will do what's best to keep Aaron healthy.
Not Yet
Aaron is neither coming home today nor do we know about the plans for surgery or release. The best we know is that he was taken off the antibiotic Vancomycin because it can cause kidney problems if you stay on it too long. This morning the doctor said there has been some inflammation since going off that antibiotic. We weren't told where or how bad the inflammation is, but I assume it's on the aortic valve. Hopefully they'll have all the decisions made by tomorrow. Being up in the air about everything isn't fun for anyone.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
If and When
It looks like Monday is the day to figure out exactly what will be happening with Aaron's surgery. The doctors have all said they'll make the decision on Monday about when and if there will be a valve replacement surgery. It could mean that Aaron will come home from the hospital tomorrow or it could mean that he will stay there and await the surgery. His preference is to be allowed to come home. If that decision is made it does not rule out the possibility of ever having the valve replaced, it just delays it until it is more medically necessary. The estimate on that time frame is 10-20 years in the future.
There will be a few more tests tomorrow and those should be what determines the outcome. Last I heard the cardiac surgeon was still the one to say it should be taken care of now. As the doctors are all smarter than me when it comes to heart health, I trust their judgement of what will be best for Aaron. We all just want him to be healthy and happy.
There will be a few more tests tomorrow and those should be what determines the outcome. Last I heard the cardiac surgeon was still the one to say it should be taken care of now. As the doctors are all smarter than me when it comes to heart health, I trust their judgement of what will be best for Aaron. We all just want him to be healthy and happy.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Fast Sunday
For those of you having Fast Sunday this week, please remember to keep Aaron in your fast. We need the doctors to make the right decisions for Aaron's best health. We hope that he will heal quickly and completely.
Today's News
Today was supposed to be slow in terms of Aaron's medical things, but I don't suppose that's never the case when it comes to a hospital stay. They inserted a PICC line (a more long-term IV from which blood can be drawn and into which medication can be administered) in his upper arm because he has a high platelet count and his IV failed. It also stops a good deal of the poking to get blood samples and give medicine.
The biggest set of news is that the valve replacement surgery is an "if" rather than a "when". There are three doctors working with Aaron: a cardiologist, a cardiac surgeon, and an infectious disease doctor. After the most recent echocardiogram it appears that the stenosis of the aortic valve is not as bad as they had thought. The cardiologist and the infectious disease doctor both believe that a valve replacement is not necessary right now. It will probably be a must in 20 years or so. The cardiac surgeon believes that it should be done now rather than put off to a later date. There will be more tests performed tomorrow and the doctors will look at those to make a final determination of what should be done.
The biggest set of news is that the valve replacement surgery is an "if" rather than a "when". There are three doctors working with Aaron: a cardiologist, a cardiac surgeon, and an infectious disease doctor. After the most recent echocardiogram it appears that the stenosis of the aortic valve is not as bad as they had thought. The cardiologist and the infectious disease doctor both believe that a valve replacement is not necessary right now. It will probably be a must in 20 years or so. The cardiac surgeon believes that it should be done now rather than put off to a later date. There will be more tests performed tomorrow and the doctors will look at those to make a final determination of what should be done.
Aaron's Story
Aaron Green was born with a congenital heart defect called bicuspid aortic valve. The general consensus from doctors was that the defect would eventually require valve replacement surgery. That time came sooner than expected.
In March 2010 Aaron started displaying flu-like symptoms. Without health insurance benefits the cost of a doctor visit for the flu were too high. Over the next several weeks Aaron illness became worse, causing him to miss work. When he started to feel stress on his heart he went to the doctor to see what was wrong. Blood tests showed a bacterial infection in Aaron's blood. The strep infection had reached his heart and attacked the weak bicuspid valve. On Easter Sunday he went to the hospital immediately for antibiotic treatment.
As Aaron's doctors consulted about his situation it was determined that the stenosis of the bicuspid valve had grown progressively worse over the years and the valve needed to be replaced to prevent his death. The source of the infection was removed and antibiotics continue to be administered every four hours. A minimum of two weeks stay at the hospital after the extraction is required before open heart surgery can be performed to replace the valve. An additional stay of 4-5 days after the surgery is necessary, followed by a few weeks of convalescing at home before Aaron can return to work.
Hospital and doctors costs will reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Without insurance these costs it will be financially devastating. Other costs associated with being away from work for two or more months are also crippling. It is our hope to offset some of the costs and help get Aaron back on his feet after this major surgery.
For more information or to find out how you help, please contact us at helpaaronheal@gmail.com
In March 2010 Aaron started displaying flu-like symptoms. Without health insurance benefits the cost of a doctor visit for the flu were too high. Over the next several weeks Aaron illness became worse, causing him to miss work. When he started to feel stress on his heart he went to the doctor to see what was wrong. Blood tests showed a bacterial infection in Aaron's blood. The strep infection had reached his heart and attacked the weak bicuspid valve. On Easter Sunday he went to the hospital immediately for antibiotic treatment.
As Aaron's doctors consulted about his situation it was determined that the stenosis of the bicuspid valve had grown progressively worse over the years and the valve needed to be replaced to prevent his death. The source of the infection was removed and antibiotics continue to be administered every four hours. A minimum of two weeks stay at the hospital after the extraction is required before open heart surgery can be performed to replace the valve. An additional stay of 4-5 days after the surgery is necessary, followed by a few weeks of convalescing at home before Aaron can return to work.
Hospital and doctors costs will reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Without insurance these costs it will be financially devastating. Other costs associated with being away from work for two or more months are also crippling. It is our hope to offset some of the costs and help get Aaron back on his feet after this major surgery.
For more information or to find out how you help, please contact us at helpaaronheal@gmail.com
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Gathering Place
There are so many people who are concerned about what's going on with Aaron that it seemed best to have a place to keep all the up-to-date information for all who want to view it. This will also be the place to come for fund-raising efforts that are in their early stages. Aaron's family members are doing what they can to help and support him with what he needs, but there simply isn't enough. Other resources are either very limited or nonexistent.
As it stands right now, Aaron is in the hospital for another two weeks before doctors can perform the valve replacement surgery. Four teeth were extracted on Wednesday evening and that should take care of the source of the infection that is attacking his heart. Aaron is receiving IV antibiotics every four hours and will continue to need them in the two weeks leading up to the surgery. Doctors are discussing the three options for what kind of valve to use in the replacement: pig, human, or mechanical.
A pig valve is most often used, but most people who receive this surgery are over 50 years old. It lasts 10-15 years before it needs replacing. This one is not recommended because of Aaron's age and the number of replacement surgeries that would be required in the future.
A human valve includes the valve and part of the arteries leading to it. This valve lasts 20 years and is one of the options being considered.
A mechanical valve requires no replacement, but Aaron would need to be on blood thinners for the rest of his life to prevent clotting on the valve. This is the other option being considered. No decisions have been made yet.
While it's not any fun to have to stay in the hospital for an extended amount of time, Aaron is optimistic about the road ahead of him. He's also getting used to frequent needle jabs and hospital food. :)
As it stands right now, Aaron is in the hospital for another two weeks before doctors can perform the valve replacement surgery. Four teeth were extracted on Wednesday evening and that should take care of the source of the infection that is attacking his heart. Aaron is receiving IV antibiotics every four hours and will continue to need them in the two weeks leading up to the surgery. Doctors are discussing the three options for what kind of valve to use in the replacement: pig, human, or mechanical.
A pig valve is most often used, but most people who receive this surgery are over 50 years old. It lasts 10-15 years before it needs replacing. This one is not recommended because of Aaron's age and the number of replacement surgeries that would be required in the future.
A human valve includes the valve and part of the arteries leading to it. This valve lasts 20 years and is one of the options being considered.
A mechanical valve requires no replacement, but Aaron would need to be on blood thinners for the rest of his life to prevent clotting on the valve. This is the other option being considered. No decisions have been made yet.
While it's not any fun to have to stay in the hospital for an extended amount of time, Aaron is optimistic about the road ahead of him. He's also getting used to frequent needle jabs and hospital food. :)
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