Birth Plan

We officially know that we will be delivering Michael at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital. The Hospital is across the street from Children's Hospital. Michael's due to be with us on August 15Th, however we have a feeling that he will come a little early. Kari is 35weeks. Due to his heart condition, Hollywood Pres is the best place for him to be born. So I wanted to give you a timeline for our birth plan.

1. Michael is born.
2. After birth there will be a series of diagnostic tests on his heart.
3. (If needed) His first surgery will take place within 1st or 2ND weeks of life. A shunt will be used to regulate blood to the lungs.
4. The Glenn Procedure 4-6 months later. (2ND Surgery)
5. The Fontan Procedure age 3 or 30 lbs. (3rd Surgery)
6. Kick n Ass and taking names

Met the Surgeon 7-7-10

We met with the surgeon Dr. Winfield Wells today at Children's Hospital. The meeting went really well. Dr. Wells said that Michael's heart condition is the best to have. He gave us a 98% success rate. Dr. Wells also showed us the procedures that will take place on Michael and the process when he is born. He was very comforting. After the meeting we were shown the Natal ICU. That was incredible, there were 20 doctors and nurses looking over 8-10 babies with heart disease. There is 1 nurse dedicated to each baby at all times. Michael will be in great hands. We were also comforted in knowing that one of us can be in the ICU 24 hours a day. There is also sleeping quarters for the parents when we need to take a nap. Although it wasn't our ideal place to spend our anniversary of 3 years. It kind of was.

-This is the profile of our surgeon.

http://www.cts.usc.edu/facultystaff-winfieldwells.html

Michael Maverick Mass

Michael had a Mass in his honor at St. John De la Salle in Granada Hills. The same place we got married. It was very nice of the Church to do that for us on such late notice. Grandma and Grandpa Sangalli, Momma Harris, and Aunt Angie were all in attendance. We also moved into a parent role by buying a bigger car for baby Michael. A new Honda CRV that you see in the background. Now I can stretch my legs out and Kari doesn't have to have the steering wheel pressing against her belly. Doesn't Grandpa Sangalli look good with his Tony Soprano shirt.

More Good News About Our Little Guy

Yesterday we had an appointment with our perinatologist (which is just a fancy way of saying high-risk pregnancy doctor). Going into the appointment we defiantly had a bone to pick with the doctor considering he was the one that misdiagnosed Michael with HLHS. What a doozy of a misdiagnoses, right? Perhaps he needs some help with the concept of right vs. left. He also gave us the diagnosis of a hypo plastic cerebellum, which means an underdeveloped part of the brain that controls motor skills. He had said that it may have been attributed to where Michael was in development (we all develop at our own rate). Needless to say that we were very concerned.
So we went into this appointment with a bit of a chip on our shoulder, but we did not want to gloat too much considering there was one more big hurdle that we were hoping to get over. Right when we got into "the position",which is me belly up on a table, Eric asked the doctor to check the cerebellum. I was thinking two miracles would be too much to hope for, but I was wrong! The doctor said that Michael is now right on track in his cerebellum and everywhere else in his tiny little body. Well, he doesn't feel so tiny when his head is pushing into your ribs. Now that we are equipped with all of our information all we need to do is create a game plan, which just so happens to be a Kari and Eric specialty. All I can say is that I am so thankful and at peace. I can breathe again and I know that we have an amazing son that has already overcome more medical ordeals in his 7 months in the womb than Eric and I have in our 28 years. We are so thankful to God, and we know that he will continue to heal our strong willed little boy. We would also like to thank all of our family and friends for all of your prayers and support, we couldn't do this without all of you. Love you all so much!

Tricuspid Atresia vs Normal Heart and HLHS Heart

Just wanted to show everybody the different hearts that we are dealing with.

Kari now at 28 weeks

Baby Michael is now 28 weeks and we are trying to fatten him up. It helped that Kari ate a huge pastrami sandwich Saturday at the Oinkster.

Michael is Already a Maverick

I have got to tell this story . During our Ecocardiogram at children's hospital on Friday, the Doctor was trying to get a good picture of Michael's heart. Michael was being very fussy and was not being cooperative. The doctor just could not get a good look at his heart. So the doctor shook Kari's belly and then turned to Mom, Aunt Angie, and me and yelled, "DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT?" We looked at each other and said, "What?" Kari needed something to eat so the baby would turn. Luckily we had a granola bar. She ate it and then the doctor made Kari jog up and down the hallway. Kari looked like she was doing football drills. Finally Kari came in, and finally we were able to get a good look at the heart. Michael said, "screw you guys, I'm comfortable." We can already tell that Michael is going to live up to his middle name (MAVERICK), he does not live by any mans rules, he's a lone wolf. We love him already, the little rascal.