Today I got to speak with someone from Dr. Weinstein (Her Surgeon) office. Her surgery is scheduled for 7:00am Oct. 14. We have to be there at 6am. The earlier the better (since I will not sleep the night before). We also reviewed all the insurance info and basic pre-op info. She has an EKG scheduled on September 8 and a follow up Sept 12. Her pre-op for her surgery is scheduled for Sept 25. Poor girl has alot of doctors appointments coming up, so Im spoiling her like crazy. Right now she is running around the house in her walker. She is planning just to relax this weekend at home with mom and dad. And the weekend after that she is going to see lots of family at her cousin Julian's off to the army party. Im sure she will have a blast! Thats all the updates I have for now.......

VSD Pic

Here is a pic that kinda helps explain Viola's Issue. Try googling "VSD" and you will get a TON of info. Also try the American Heart Association. They have some great info. (Thats where this pic is from). Viola has another ECHO scheduled for Sept 8 and we are meeting with her cardiologist on Sept 12. We also have a meeting with the surgeon again on Sept 25. This is where I will be reviewing my four pages (so far) of NEW questions I have. Thanks again for all the support!!!

Wow, I only started this site yesterday (and didnt even have a chance to email it to everyone) and I am getting GREAT feedback. This is much easier (and less painful) then trying to explain what is going on. I did not know some of you do not know the history of how this all came about....Here is the short version:

We went to visit her pediatrician (Dr. Wapshare, Chester Pediatrics)for a sick visit (it was just a first time Mom scare), but while at this visit, Dr. Wapshare heard a murmur and sent us to go see a pediatric cardiologist right away (we left his office and went right to the cardiologist). We went to The Pediatric Cardiology Associates in Middletown and meet Dr. Vepa. After an EKG & a ECHO (and a really LONG time), they let us know she has a hole in her heart. They said this is common, but the size of her hole was cause for a little concern. At this point we were at the wait and see stage, to see if it would close up on its own as they normally do. Over the course of the next few months we would get tests done, but during yesterday's tests they noticed more blood was leaking out compared to the tests over the passed few months. This is where the decision for surgery was made. After consulting with Dr. Fethke also from The Pediatric Cardiologoy Associates and then the surgeon Dr. Weinstein, we decide to schedule this. If we do not do this now later in life she will need many more risky surgeries.

So here we are now....I will be home with Viola during her recovery. I just filed for FMLA today (BTW....our new FMLA filing system is MUCH easier at work now then it was when I was prego!) Julio and I will be staying at the hospital with her and spoiling her a$$ rotten. I sense a spending spree on Elmo DVDs! I have spoke to some great people who have been thru this before and I even had one mother who sent me pics so I know what to expect when she gets out of surgery. I also spoke to Suzanne Courtwright, nurse practitioner today and thanked her for spending about an hour with me. Her Dr. Fethke & Dr. Weinstein really took the time out to explain everything going on and I can thank them enough for that. She gave me her direct cell number (she will regret it! LOL).

Viola is having a great time at Grandmas today. I'm very lucky she is with family so she can be spoiled ROTTEN!

Well thats it, thanks for the good feedback. Overall Im happy with this site, not like I dont like talking to EVERYONE, but it makes it a little easier on me! (Im not a phone person, yet I work for a phone company...FUNNY!)

Update on Viola

As of yesterday, I have found out my 9 month old daughter, Viola, will need open heart surgery. She has a Ventricular Septal Defect and it is located very high on the septum, close to the Aortic Valve. It is approx 6mm in size. The flow across the VSD is affecting the leaflets of the valve causing it to leak. This condition is known as Aortic Regurgitation. Her surgery is schedule for Oct 14. I have been online doing all the research I can. I have also been in contact with other mothers who have been thru the same thing (thanks to the internet) and one of them (Amy) has a care page for her daughter. I will be using this as my carepage to update everyone on Viola's condition. Thank you to everyone who has called an email, if I didnt get back to you I'm sorry. Julio & I are a little stressed out. Im not a phone person anyways....This makes it easier to keep everyone up to date on her and makes it a little bit easier on me. Its hard to talk about over and over again.
As of right now, Viola is in NO pain. She needs this surgery to correct this issues before it becomes a MAJOR issue. Her surgery will be performed at the Childrens Hospital at Montefiore (Bronx, NY).

Thats all I have for now. I gonna try this website out, see how it is...Please let me know what you think!