Komet's WIN!!

A tough hockey battled ensued Saturday night as the Komets went toe-to-toe with the Warriors. In the end it took extra time to decide a winner as the game went to a shootout. Led by our Asst. Captain Rich ("No Brakes"), he was able to lift a wrister above the outstretched glove of the opposing teams goalie. This gave the Komets a 3-2 win. My game was nowhere near my expected level as the aggressiveness (from the other team and on my part) kept me laying on the ice. At the end it was tough to walk away from the locker room (due to dehydration and emotions) as it was possibly my last game of the season.

Wed. morning I will have an arthroscopic procedure performed on my left shoulder to remove years of abuse from baseball and other sports. Though I should be fully rehabbed in 3 weeks, we may be heading off to San Francisco at that time period (thus ending my hockey season). Becky has been diligently acquiring all of the documents and pictures that UCSF needs to make a rule on our candidacy. Our local Doctors feel good about our chances and have all stated that if we can do the surgery to go for it.

Today we met with the surgeon who we are requesting to handle JJ's care after birth. Dr. Garcia is a very strong surgeon who has experienced dealing with these situations before. She is very aggressive in her approach but did carry a good point. Children born with the high complexity of JJ's case have limited amount of time to make all of the right moves. By acting swiftly we are improving what odds he does have. Dr. Garcia did explain to us what ECMO really is.

ECMO is a life sustaining measure done on infants in dire needs. Essentially they cut into the right side of the baby's neck and hook a machine to it's carotid artery. This will help oxygenate the blood (while thinning it at the same time) to reduce the pulmonary hypertension. Side effects range from hearing loss to death. Once ECMO is not needed they simply detach it and close off the carotid artery on that side of the neck, essentially leaving the child with active arteries only on the left side.

Again ECMO is reserved for the worst of the worst. However it will probably be JJ's only hope. Regardless if we have the procedure done at UCSF JJ''s life will begin with him gasping for air to fill his undersized lungs. Every breath will push the sides of the lungs against his heart causing a risk of damage to it. His stomach will be flattened (see any old picture of Arnold Swartznegger posing during his muscle days to with his chest wide and stomach sunk in to get an idea). Doctors and nurses will try to get him to breathe nitrous oxide (because of the ease of the gas to access the lungs) as a means to facilitate breathing. Once a semi-stabilized state is occurred he will be rushed to surgery to remove the organs from his chest and/or to attach ECMO (if his lungs are developed enough ECMO may not be needed). After some recovery JJ will undergo more surgery to clean-up or take care of what has not been done in the previous surgery's. If he can survive all of this after about 2 - 3 months he would be in a better position. By month 4 he will start to normalize into his actions, however he will have a tendency toward being slow to develop due to all of the medical procedures and treatments. Once past 1 year of age life for him will be normal. Though long term problems from ECMO may or may not be present he would be considered a survivor.

I hope to have Becky post on Wed. after my surgery to let you know how I am doing. Until I post again thank you for your support. As you pray for my family I pray for yours as I am reminded daily how wonderful everyone is who has come into Becky's and my life.