Looks like we are here to stay a while!

Let me help everyone with gradient in case you are like me and had no clue what dr was talking about:

Gradient: (robyn's def): the gradient is like a water hose when you put your finger over the front of the top of the hose. The pressure inside the hose is a lot more than what is leaking out of the hose, therefore the pressures are different! (maybe that helps)


We are still in Houston and not by choice. Yesterday morning, we thought we might get to go home Monday afternoon or Tuesday. The residents and the attending doctor came in and I asked them a lot of questions and they said that they would present her case at a conference on Monday morning, but did not expect anyone to want to do surgery at that time. One question in particular was how is there such a big difference in the gradient levels compared to Lubbock. The only answer they suggested is that it could have possibly been the technician. That didn't make me really happy so I asked the cardiologist again when he came in later. He said he was not for sure but would repeat the echo before she was released. I guess I kept asking enough so that they decided to repeat the echo yesterday afternoon. Todd's dad was here and took her down while we went to eat and change hotels. About 4:00, Todd's dad called and had the doctor in the room with us. He said that the echo confirmed what Lubbock saw and that he would talk to us when we got to the hospital. So off to the hospital we went.

When he came in he said that during the echo Gracie's heart rate had a lot to do with the gradient. When her heart rate is low, the gradient is low and when it is high, her heart rate is high. He also said she has what is called Shone's syndrome or disease which just means she has multiple blockages and they are all on the left side of her heart. They also found a membrane above the valve that is not supposed to be there. They moved Gracie to a step down room which just means they are watching more closely. He said that he would just keep the plan the same until Monday as far as presenting her case at the conference and he predicted that she will have surgery within the next couple of weeks. If we wait for the surgeon that was recommended from Dr. Robinson (Lubbock cardiologist) then we will have to wait until the week after spring break. So we will just wait until Monday and find out an answer and definite plan on what exactly is going to happen.

I know I probably left some things out or didn't tell you everything since my mind is going a hundred miles an hour, but my sister Amy's blog ellysonfour.blogspot.com also has updates and probably will be updated quicker than mine! Keep us in your prayers!