Ivy's In Her Room!!!

Hi Team Ivy!

Mary just sent me this amazing recap of Ivy Joy's miracle surgery today... And, she asked me to post.. (Such a privilege!)

"Ivy Joy is in her room!   Her Chest is open and will stay that way till at least monday. 

Surgery went beautifully!!!

 All of her other heart parts were fine.  All these problems were being caused by the mitral valve not working.  She had No clots!!!

Are you ready for this???  The valve flap was stuck by a large ball of scar tissue!!! Who knows how long it's been there? We don't!  I got to see it, he brought the whole valve with him when he came to see me.  I wanted to keep it but so did her doctor and he won!   This has never ever been seen before! At least not here in Boston.  Oh Ivy!! I am so sorry baby!  But so relieved at the same time! No clots floating around.

We did the right thing! Oh can i just tell you the sheer joy and relief I feel right now?

This would never have dissolved and never come loose. The valve would have stayed stuck and Ivy would not have survived. 

We talked about transplant a few days ago and the doctors felt that this valve was causing all the problems and replacing it would be the optimal choice for Ivy. But there was always that unknown. They could have opened her up and found problems with other parts of her heart. That's what usually happens with her. They felt it was worth a try. And it was!!!! We cried out, we begged, we caused a flood of prayers and tears today, and God heard our cries!!!!! Ivy gives us all hope doesn't she? How can you not believe in miracles? In love? In joy? In grace? In God!?

Ivy now has a new mitral valve. It is a pig aortic valve turned upside down and flipped up. They don't make a tissue mitral valve small enough for her so this was the ideal choice for Ivy. It won't last forever, this won't be her last surgery, but we pray in Gods holy name that it is the last emergency one and the last for a long time!!!!!

I'm going to go see my girl now!! "