Mack Attack

 8/21/22 Before and After Surgery As we pulled out of the Ronald McDonald House towards UIHC for surgery day, we flipped on the radio and In Jesus' Name  started. Courtney burst into tears right away as this song has been so near to our hearts through this journey. The emotions were rolling early as the surgery approached. We were able to spend extra time with Macklin that morning as the surgery was slightly delayed, and we soaked up every moment. We had to take a step out for a bit as the nurses wrestled with trying to put in arterial and IV lines -- Macklin's blood vessels are never easy to find or access. Eventually, the time came to roll Macklin down to surgery and all we could do is continue to hope and pray. The surgery took about four hours this round. Dr. Ortega met us in Mack's room drenched in sweat right after the surgery. He was pleased to announce that he was able to embolize four big feeder arteries with success. He also noted that they did a follow-up ECHO ri...

 8/16/22 Since the Cath Lab... On August 5th Macklin had a procedure in the pediatric cath lab where they intended to collect the most accurate data on the pressures of his heart through diagnostic testing as well as place a stent in a pulmonary vein. By the grace of God, Mack didn't need a stent, and we learned a lot about the state of his heart. Since that day, the conversations with the teams of doctors have been burdensome and endless. The result of the diagnostic data led the doctors to believe that Macklin needed another embolization surgery again as soon as possible. This was hard news for us to hear. Days before we had been dreaming about going home -- had seen the finish line in our view, and now we had to shift to thinking about Macklin going back into an incredibly risky surgery like he had back in June to save his life. Boston or Bust When we were told that Macklin needed another major surgery again, our efforts pivoted quickly to trying to get Macklin transferred to Bo...

 8/7/22 New Findings Friday felt like a roller coaster ride. We were mentally and emotionally being pulled along as we ramped up for another surgery for Mack. We prayed over him, said see you in a bit, and watched him be wheeled out to the cath lab. Within two hours we got a call that the procedure was over. This was unexpected as we were told it would take 4-5 hours that day. We rushed back to his room from our waiting spot and were able to talk with the pediatric cardiologist who did the procedure. The first goal of the procedure was to do a diagnostic test that is the most accurate way to get all the pressures of Macklin's pulmonary system. Our prayer in that test was that they would not find any need to put a stint in Mack. That prayer was answered. The surgeon told us his pulmonary veins looked great and there was no need for a stint at all. Secondly, he said something that caught both of us by surprise, so much so that Cory asked the surgeon to repeat it two more times. Dr. A...

 8/4/22 Test Results On Monday, Mack had his most recent ECHO after two of his three pulmonary hypertension (PH) medicines had been weaned off. Clinically, he was looking really good, so hopes of the ECHO coming back with lower pressures and affirmation that we're heading in the right direction filled our thoughts. We didn't get a call until late Monday night about his ECHO, and the doctor told us that some of the results were inconclusive and hard to read. The next morning there was more to the story, and they had discovered a pulmonary vein looked stenosed. A quick anatomy lesson for Macklin's case is that pulmonary hypertension is a condition where the blood vessels going into the lung from the right side  of the heart are thick and muscular creating difficult flow and circulation of the blood, thus causing strain and extra work on the heart. This most recent ECHO revealed that one vein that leads  out of  the lungs to the left side  of the heart is also thic...