Perspectives: a Baby's Heart and his Grandpa's Fresh Start

Good morning and welcome to March!

Where we live at the moment, March is coming in like a lion.  Those pretty little spring flowers are covered with a very unexpected layer of white.  One perspective--it made for a very bright morning.

At every turn in the road we readjust our perspectives based on experiences.  We thought a quick update would be in order...

Any of you who've read our daughter, Erika's, Facebook posts over the past couple of days will already know this, and we hope you'll bear with the repetition.   Darling, precious Grandson Rowan just became more darling and more precious.   He was born with a congenital heart condition with a name longer than he is--supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), which causes episodes of very rapid heartbeats, sometimes self-correcting, sometimes not.  Here is Erika's short version...

Erika's Posts: (Monday)"Rowan decided that since tomorrow's (28th) his due date, he wanted to go back to visit a hospital. We're home now, stable, and will see the pediatric cardiologist tomorrow. They get you into the ER fast when you have a newborn with SVT...and the ER room gets swarmed with people. On the bright side, we got to see Emanuel's (Portland) new pediatric ER on its opening day... not my idea of a fun evening, though... :(

(Tuesday) We met with the pediatric cardiologist today, Rowan was a trooper and just watched his momma as he had his echo cardiogram done. He has Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) (310 beats-per-minute in the ER on Mon.), which we have known about since I was 34 weeks pregnant ( Rowan was born at 36 wks). However, he didn't have any SVT episodes after delivery until 6 days ago (we'd hoped that it had corrected during the birth process). Of the SVT he has, it is one of the "better" types. There is a 70% chance he will grow out of it by one year of age. He will be on digoxin (a cardiac medication) until at least one year of age. We will be going in Friday to get a portable halter monitor for him so that they can monitor him for 24 hours. He's a trooper and it breaks my heart that he's going through this, but I keep reminding myself that he won't remember and he is the most precious little guy a momma could ask for! Again, your thoughts and prayers mean the world to us!!!"

**That, my friends, totally changes a parent's perspective!

Kathy accompanied the Probst family to the ER.  There is nothing quite as frightening and traumatizing as watching your grandson (and his parents) as he is attended by a rapid-fire ER team of about 8 - 10 medical professionals, unless you are the parent.  Try that on for perspective.   Great news is that he has gained two and a half pounds in the four weeks since leaving the hospital at birth--from 5#3oz to 7#12oz, is progressing very well, and is such a snugglebug! 

Barry monitored the ER progress from "home" via frequent phone calls.  As we approach the end of the fifth week of radiation, we continue to focus mostly on trying to find some relief from the hives.   At the oncologist's suggestion, he has quit taking all non-food items--including vitamins/food supplements--except his blood thinner, benadryl and acetaminaphen.  This has reintroduced some side effects, but nothing compared to the discomfort of the allergic reaction.  The rate of spread has slowed dramatically, and we feel that we are making progress.  This side effect put all the others in perspective.  The best relief comes from taking a bath with oatmeal "milk" and baking soda followed by a good slathering of aloe vera gel.  As usual, Kathy has been making lemonade out of  lemons.  She found a wonderful scone recipe to use the cooked oatmeal that is left over from making the oatmeal "milk".   Through all this we are incredibly thankful that our "digs" are so cozy and convenient and for the continued prayers and support of all of you.

The townhome passed it's inspection, and we have some idea of what minor issues might need to be dealt with as we move forward in the process.  All of a sudden, having a little place of our own a few blocks from Erika, Brad, & Rowan has become very important to us.

The weather this week has been downright miserable, even by Oregon standards.  Today was the second day we have awakened to see new snow on the ground.  The daily commute to and from the hospital in these conditions kind of reminds me of a scene from "Groundhog Day".

Not to despair, the weather wizard is calling for a return to partly cloudy and low 50's by the weekend.  Let the flower parade continue!

We hold in our hearts those special friends who, we have recently learned, are facing new challenges, and wish them strength and the blessing of being surrounded by love and support.  And we thank everyone for lifting us up in your thoughts.

Shalom,
Barry and Kathy