Dr. Edward Bove is experienced in the treatment of complex congenital heart defects.

Back in April, I attached this photo to a post I wrote about Dr. Edward Bove (the surgeon who performed our Nathan’s surgery in 2006).  I learned from Phil Eppard, that the little fella’ pictured with Dr.  Bove is Phil’s son, Aidan.  The photo was taken in 2005 after Aidan’s first heart surgery and has been used in “The Michigan Difference” campaign.

That’s pretty cool, but it’s not the reason I’m saying “Hooray for Aidan.”  Apparently, under the excellent care of Dr. Bove, Aidan had his second heart surgery yesterday, and it went great!  Aidan is out of PICU and in a regular room now.

The photo has been reproduced as a giant banner that hangs at the hospital for all to see.  So Aidan is famous at the University of Michigan Medical Center. 

Update:  9-19-09  Aidan has been discharged and is on his way home.  Best wishes to the Eppard family.

Martha Teal's blog is called "Lookin' Up."

Last week, I posted “99 Balloons,” the touching video story of the life of Eliot Mooney. While visiting his parent’s website (Matt and Ginny Mooney), I noticed a poem by Martha Teal entitled “For Nathan.”  Having a Nathan* of my own, I was intrigued enough to read it.  I’m so glad I did…it was a beautiful tribute to baby Naomi, born the same day as her son, Nathan.  The story behind the poem is exceptional.  I wrote Martha and asked her for permission to publish it on Nathan’s Prayer.  Here’s what she said:

Marcia and I met at church and taught Sunday School together in the fall of 1989. We found out we were pregnant at the same time, went to the same doctor, and were due two days apart.  Neither of us was thrilled to be pregnant as we each had several children already at home, Marcia-three and myself-four.  Her ultrasounds showed some abnormalities, and although we never talked about it together, we both mentally prepared ourselves for her to bring home a baby with Downs even though that diagnosis was never given.

I delivered my son on June 19 at 12:30 am, fine and healthy,  He weighed just under 8 pounds.  Marcia and her husband stopped by to visit us the next morning when she came in for a stress test.  She was scheduled for a C-section the following day, but the stress test didn’t go well, and they decided to take the baby that day instead.  And so, after discovering our pregnancies at the same time, sharing visits to the doctor (we often made our appointments at the same time), and becoming good friends, we delivered on the same day. [Marcia's baby, Naomi, was born with Trisomy 18.]

I had a chance to visit Marcia while we were still in the same hospital (she was later transferred because of Naomi’s condition), but the nurses didn’t want me to take my baby into her room.  It was a sad and confusing day and in the confusion, I never asked to see her baby.  I’m not sure why God brought us through an experience like this together only to have Marcia’s baby live just two days, but I know He is an awesome God who makes no mistakes.  Something happened during that time that was bigger than any of us could understand…I know that.

And so, Eliot’s story touched my heart deeply.  What a blessing to meet that little one even if only through an internet video and blog.  Someday my Nathan and I will meet Naomi, too, and maybe someday we’ll find out the bigger work that God was doing.

You are welcome to use my poem and story.  I pray it blesses and encourages someone else out there.

In Jesus, Martha Teal

On her son’s first birthday, Martha wrote this poem and shared it with her friend, Marcia:

FOR NATHAN

There’s a little girl in heaven
Who is just about your size,
She plays peek-a-boo with Jesus
And watches angels fly.

And when she needs to have a hug,
She climbs on Jesus’ knee,
He wraps His arms around her
And loves her perfectly.

Sometimes he tells her stories
About her mom and dad,
And how much her family loves her,
I know that makes her glad.

Jesus cares for children,
So if she ever cries,
He takes her up into His arms
And gently dries her eyes.

I watch you growing bigger,
And as you learn to stand,
She learns to walk in heaven
By holding Jesus’ hand.

- by Martha Teal

I wrote Martha back:

Thank you so much for giving the green light for me to post your lovely poem and story.  I already see great meaning and purpose in your experience.  We have become such a throw away society that we fail to see the beauty in the short lives of the Eliots and Naomis of the world.  I love stories like this because they teach us to cherish the gifts that God gives us, especially the imperfect ones.

[Visit Martha Teal's blog at http://justseven.blogspot.com/]

*Nathan’s Prayer is named for my son who was born with Scimitar Syndrome.  In July of 2006, Dr. Edward Bove successfully performed heart surgery on Nathan.  Three months later, we discovered a back defect would require spinal fusion surgery to prevent paralysis.  It’s been a tough journey, but Nathan is doing great!

1. Normally, the right pulmonary vein enters the left atrium here. 2. In PAPVR, the right pulmonary vein abnormally enters the right atrium.

This is one of the best illustrations I have found for explaining PAPVR.

Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (PAPVR) is a rare congenital heart defect in which blood flow from one or more of the pulmonary veins return to the right atrium instead of to the left atrium.  This is a problem because the right atrium shoots this already oxygenated blood right back to the lungs to be oxygenated again.

Of course, this is a very inefficient way for the heart to function. The heart must work extra hard to provide an adequate amount of oxygenated blood to the body; and over time, this causes a variety of consequences, including arrhythmias, pulmonary hypertension, and right-sided heart failure.

If 50% or more of the pulmonary veins anomalously return, this is considered clinically significant enough to warrant surgical correction. If the patient has an Atrial Septal Defect, the surgeon will close the defect with a patch and redirect blood from the anomalous pulmonary vein to the left atrium.  If there is no ASD, a baffle or tunnel will be created to redirect blood to the left atrium.

PAPVR associated with Scimitar Syndrome has the added complication of dextrocardia. The surgery will likely be performed on a heart that is rotated backwards.  The atrial septum is usually intact.

Our first look at Nathan after heart surgery

My own son, Nathan, had this surgery on July 25, 2006, at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Our experience included a full day of preliminary testing, surgery the following morning, and a stay in PICU.  After extubation, he was moved to a regular hospital room where he spent the first few days on strong pain medication.  Removal of the chest tubes occurred on about the third day–this was somewhat emotionally challenging but was successful, nonetheless.  By that evening, his personality began to return.  On the fourth day, nurses encouraged him to take a brief walk down the hall.  By the fifth day, he was well enough to be released!

Nathan takes his first walk down the hall after heart surgery to correct PAPVR, Scimitar Syndrome. His surgery was performed at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, an excellent facility for the treatment of congenital heart defects.

We used a number of child-friendly books to prepare Nathan for surgery.  One of his favorites was Franklin Goes to the Hospital.

Other related posts on this website include:  Scimitar Syndrome, Dextrocardia, Nathan’s Prayer, Remembering C.S. Mott, and Dr. Edward Bove.

Also see my article in Parents magazine:  “Nathan’s Wonder Slide”

If your child has an upcoming heart surgery, consider adding him/her to our Prayer List.

Dr. Edward Bove is experienced in the treatment of complex congenital heart defects.

When faced with a complicated congenital heart defect, confidence in the skill and expertise of your child’s surgeon is of paramount importance.  When our son, Nathan, was diagnosed with Scimitar Syndrome, a rare condition characterized by dextrocardia, pulmonary hypoplasia, and Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return, we soon learned that our local surgeons had no personal experience performing the required repair.  After reviewing Nathan’s medical records, the closest doctor with a successful surgery under his belt was not willing to proceed due to the “severe rotation of the heart.”

There was tremendous anxiety in our household as we considered our options.  Do we allow a willing doctor to perform the surgical correction even though this would be his first attempt?  Or do we continue to search for a doctor skilled in correcting this rare CHD, possibly allowing Nathan’s heart to weaken in the passing months?

Thankfully, I came into possession of Michael Ruhlman’s book, Walk on Water:  Inside an Elite Pediatric Surgical Unit, which documents Dr. Roger Mee’s dynamic team at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.  Mee, I discovered (to my initial chagrin), had retired, but the name of another “Walk on Water” surgeon caught my attention–Dr. Edward Bove.

I described our son’s condition to him via email, and was thrilled when he quickly and graciously wrote back that he “would be honored to evaluate” our son for surgery.  Bryan and I were extremely impressed with his credentials.  He had an 85% success rate with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a complex condition requiring a series of three surgeries in order to transform half of a heart into a functional heart.  After reviewing Nathan’s medical records, he called one day to inform us that he would perform the surgery.  I took down the necessary appointment information, thanked him, hung up the phone…and shook for the next few minutes, in the grips of an odd combination of joy and terror.

In July of 2006, our family of seven boarded a plane in Hurricane Katrina-ravaged Gulfport, Mississippi, and flew to Ann Arbor, Michigan.  At the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, University of Michigan Medical Center, Dr. Edward Bove constructed a baffle out of Nathan’s own pericardium to tunnel through the right atrium to the left atrium, successfully rerouting oxygenated blood to the correct chamber.  That’s not even a Reader’s Digest Condensed version of the story, but suffice it to say, we will forever be grateful to Dr. Bove and his team at C.S. Mott.

Our first look at Nathan after heart surgery

…Jesus called the children to him, and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16

The summer of 2006 was the most terrifying season of my life–Bryan’s, too, for that matter.  The date, July 25, was hanging around my neck like an albatross.  That was the day Nathan was scheduled to undergo open heart surgery at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan Medical Center.  Everything was in place:  our flight from Gulfport, Mississippi, to Ann Arbor, Michigan, was booked; accommodations at the Med Inn were secured; and we had acquired Dr. Edward Bove, probably the best pediatric heart surgeon in the world, to repair Nathan’s congenital heart defect.

As the big day approached, I penned a simple child’s prayer (located at the bottom of the middle column) for Nathan.  He memorized it enthusiastically and would repeat it to anyone who would lend an ear.  Listening to his sweet recitation did not calm my heart, but it certainly warmed it.  Have a child facing surgery?  We would be honored if Nathan’s Prayer brings comfort to you.