[OakShannon]

Oh my God. Oh my God.

Okay, here I was all set to wait for months and my SW just called about a 17 month old boy with some special needs. Does anyone know anything about Heterotaxy? (I think I'm spelling that right.) He has some health issues and global delays that are apparently related to the health issues and the fact that he hasn't been getting proper treatment. Part of me (a big part) wants to just say YES! But I'm trying to breathe and get more information first. He's only been in care for 2 months, and has made some great strides since then. But it would be a long road with this little one.

[loveajax]

OMG!!! I don't know anything about that condtion (except what I just read on that sophisticated Wikpedia!), but I just wanted to wish you luck! I didn't even know you and E were thinking about adopting again! How exciting and I hope this is the right situation for you and your family!

[robandjulie]

Wow!!! Breathing and researching sounds like a good first step once you get down off the cieling.

[DannieAS]

here's hoping you get the info you need to make the best decision for your family and the little one. Exciting

[Saya]

Ack! No idea, but WOW!

Paging Fadzi!

[crick]

Always get a call or letter when not expecting it, eh!??

Breaaathhhe!

I don't know about that specific condition but you might pm DevilDogWife or Suzberg to see if they know anyone in their circle of heart friends that can give you further info?

[mnmomma]

I won't pretend to know anything about it, but according to this website, What is Heterotaxy? the treatment options differ depending on which of the 2 types it is. Do you know which one it is?

Good luck with your decision!

[KLL08]

YEAH! How exciting!! I don't know anything about that condition, but I hope your research on it goes well!

[KarynB]

Holy Smokes, Oak! I didn't know you were in the process for #2, you sly dog you

Not to sway you at all, but so many kids come home with delays in IA (I'm sure domestically too, I just don't know as much about that!) and then many of them have "rapid catch-up". It's a very good sign that he's made huge strides since getting proper attention and care! Here in Ontario we have an IA clinic at our Children's Hospital who will go over referrals and medical info with you,do you have anything like that where you live?

And of course, if that fails, let's just call on our resident doctor to the rescue (-: Fadzi, where the heck are you???

[OakShannon]

Hopefully he'll pop in soon!

No, I don't know what type. I just called the SW and she's going to check with his placement worker to see if she can get more information for us. I feel prepared to parent a child with his delays and medical needs, but the mortality rate scares me, I admit.

[devildogwife]

Originally Posted by OakShannon

Hopefully he'll pop in soon!

No, I don't know what type. I just called the SW and she's going to check with his placement worker to see if she can get more information for us. I feel prepared to parent a child with his delays and medical needs, but the mortality rate scares me, I admit.

The mortality rate for Cameron's heart defect isn't great either. There's definitely nothing wrong with being scared of that. It is not easy to parent a child, knowing how easily they can die. Once you begin to parent a medically fragile child, everything changes though. Your view of the world changes. However, there are miracles and I am the mom of one. Kids who are very sick can pull through. As I've said before, I very firmly believe that sick children need and deserve parents just as much as healthy ones. I have never once regretted putting my heart out there and loving my son, knowing that he was about to die on the night he was born. I really believe that you more than capable of doing this. You and your partner could be such great moms for this little boy!

I read over the heart stuff and none of it was incredibly scary to me, probably because I'm used to getting terrible news from my son's surgeon haha. One thing that is similar that he has dealt with pulmonary artery stenosis. Cameron is dealing with that right now. I don't know if you remember from his carepage, but his LPA was completely closed. The nice thing is, that can be dealt with in the cath lab instead of the OR.

I also think there is a good chance that Cameron will need a heart transplant in the future. I don't dwell on it though and try to take things one day at a time. I'm sure as you learn more info it will seem incredibly overwhelming at times, I had many days like that too. We have a lot of good happy days though, and that's what I focus on.

Sorry I can't help more. Heterotaxy seems like it ecompasses so much and I only understand a little of the heart stuff. Keep us posted!

[oceanica]

I don't have a lot of advice, but wow, this is really exciting! Let us know more soon!!!

[karaboo]

Congratulations to you! One breath at a time...

[jalapeno]

Wow! How exciting! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you get all the answers you need to make a decision soon.

[Linny]

Exciting and scarey...I understand. But I do believe if this is the child you're to have, there'll be a sense of peace about it all. I hope the best for all of you in trying to decifer and decide about this little one. Good luck.

Sincerely,

Linny