On Monday afternoon, Chase arrived at the hospital in Macon. The information started coming in fast, maybe a little too fast. Every time we received an update it completely changed the story. Brandon, Chase’s father, was up in Macon with his parents and Chase. Sammy, Chase’s mother was still in the first hospital with her mother and myself at her side. Finally, Sammy received a call from the Dr in charge of Chase’s case. He started the conversation with this statement: “This is the problem”. It was great to hear a definitive statement rather than “we think” or “it may be…”  He told us that Chase had TGA along with his already diagnosed VSD. He explained that Chase would be transported to Atlanta in the next few days and would  have to undergo heart surgery in the next week or two.

It was devastating to learn that our 1 day old baby was going to have to have open-heart surgery.  Strangely, it was also a relief to know what the problem was. It gave us a chance to start doing something instead of just worrying. No, we could not physically attack the problem, but we could learn about it and understand what our options were and what the future may hold. I spent a good part of Monday night on the computer trying to comprehend.

Tuesday morning were told that Chase was going to be transferred to Atlanta at 10 am. We also learned that Sammy would be discharged from the hospital.

Sammy was not released until early afternoon. It’s sad thing to watch a new mother leaving the hospital without her baby in her arms. I would rather not have to experience that again, thank you very much!

Brandon brought Sammy home and they packed everything they would need for an extended stay in Atlanta; then we loaded up the cars and headed North.

We arrived in Atlanta in the early evening and Sammy and Brandon were able to get into the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) to see him. They also were able to talk to one of the doctors overseeing his care.  We were told that a team of surgeons were going to meet on Wednesday, and would determine the course of his treatment. We were also told to expect Chase to undergo surgery, maybe as early as Thursday.

We left the Hospital Tuesday night feeling better than we have in the last 2 days. The Dr was good at explaining the expected course of treatment and ensured us that Chase’s prognosis was very good.

I think everybody involved slept a little better Tuesday night.  If we only knew.

Here are my FB post from Monday and Tuesday.

Monday:

We received some bad news this morning. Baby Chaseton has a congenital heart defect. He is stable at this time and will be transferred to a children’s hospital in Atlanta in the next few days where he will have to undergo surgery to repair the defect.
We really appreciate all the outpouring of love we have received. Please understand if we cannot respond to each of you individually at this time. We will do our best to keep everyone updated.

Tuesday mid day:

Chaseton is in the process of being transported to Atlanta this morning. There are no changes in his condition. Sammy will be released from the hospital this afternoon and we will move this whole circus North to Atlanta.

Tuesday night:

The circus has arrived in Atlanta. Chaseton is in the cardiac CICU at Egleston Children’s Hospital on the campus of Emory University and has shown signs of improved lung function. A very good thing. The team of doctors who will perform his surgery are going to meet tomorrow and build a game plan. The operation may take place as early as Thursday but we just don’t have anything definite. Sammy and Brandon are staying at the local Ronald McDonald house and are well taken care of. The rest of the circus is doing everything we can to make their life more comfortable and holding our breath. We should have more solid information tomorrow.
Thanks again for all the love.