Since going back to work I have been way behind on blogging. I am going to try to update this weekend but can't promise anything. Lots has been going on with little JD. We recently found out he has somewhat rare heart condition...here is that explained in an email that I sent out to family as soon as we got the news:
So we had our cardiac appointment today. The hole in the heart is fine, nothing to worry about however Dr. Romp discovered a more concerning problem. JD has a “Right Aortic Arch with and Anomalous Left Subclavian” and he is pretty sure he has a vascular ring (to be explain in detail further down). Basically when a heart is forming it has and aortic arch, around 10 weeks gestation the right arch dissolves and the left one takes over all function. About 1 in a thousand people have the opposite happen, which is what happened in JD’s case. His left arch dissolved and he has a right aortic arch instead. This causes the blood vessels on the left side of his body (mainly in his left arm) to form irregularly because they have to re-route themselves to get to the aorta on the other side from where it is suppose to be. This can cause the vessels to wrap around his trachea and esophagus causing a vascular ring (which the doctor is pretty sure he has this already, however we will be seen again in 3 months at Children’s Hospital downtown so he can use his more detailed equipment). If the vascular ring is severe enough it could cause him trouble breathing and being able to swallow food. In that case they would do surgery to snip the connecting “ductal ligament” to release the tension on that ring. He says don’t worry about it right now (yeah right) and we will see how he is in 3 months. He wants us to watch for any signs of breathing problems or eating problems (Which he isn’t having because he weighs 11 lbs 6 oz now!). So we are in a wait and see kind of state now.
Here is the definition of a vascular ring from the internet…
A vascular ring is a congenital defect in which there is an abnormal formation of the aorta and/or its surrounding blood vessels. The trachea and esophagus are completely encircled and sometimes compressed by a "ring" formed by these vessels, which can lead to breathing and digestive difficulties.
Most often this is because of persistence of the double aortic arch after the second month of fetal life.
The two arches surround the esophagus and trachea which if sufficiently constrictive cause the breathing or swallowing difficulties.
Here is the definition of a vascular ring from the internet…
A vascular ring is a congenital defect in which there is an abnormal formation of the aorta and/or its surrounding blood vessels. The trachea and esophagus are completely encircled and sometimes compressed by a "ring" formed by these vessels, which can lead to breathing and digestive difficulties.
Most often this is because of persistence of the double aortic arch after the second month of fetal life.
The two arches surround the esophagus and trachea which if sufficiently constrictive cause the breathing or swallowing difficulties.
THIS IS JD’S CASE --> A less common ring is present with a right aortic arch instead of the usual left-sided aortic arch which compresses the esophagus and trachea because of the persistence of a ductal ligament (from fetal circulation) that may connect between the aorta on the front and the left subclavian artery posteriorly going to the left arm.
We will be keeping everyone updated on this as we find more out! In the mean time here is the latest picture of the not so littler James Dexter...my future tree hugger! More pictures to follow soon...I promise!
