Team Travis: Pictures Pre-Operation #3

Monday, May 3, 2010

Pictures Pre-Operation #3 - Norwood 1B

We will keep updating the blog as we go along for this next step in this journey. It is great therapy for Nicole and I.

The DiCarlo Family

Travis was so hungry that he wanted to eat my phone.

Travis' Chest Pre-Op

Travis was mad that they wouldn't let him eat.

Travis was so tired after a long day of paperwork, blood test, and Pre-Op Stuff.

Seriously. He is the cutest.

Team Travis

Off to Surgery and still smiling.

3 comments:

Jane SinclairMay 3, 2010 at 4:53 PM
Be brave...flip through all the pictures you've created already. What a wonderful distraction.

He's really, really special. God knows all three of you can handle this even when you think you can't. Hold tight.
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AnonymousMay 3, 2010 at 5:41 PM
You have such a beautiful son! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
What a cute guy!
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AnonymousMay 5, 2010 at 11:03 AM
I just stumbled across your blog. Your little guy was born one day before my little guy!

Stay strong for him, cover him in hugs and kisses and know that the Lord is taking care of him, little by little! Sounds like he's a real little fighter.
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Travis Gary DiCarlo

Travis Gary DiCarlo, first son of Roger and Nicole DiCarlo, was born at San Diego Kaiser Hospital, October 23, 2009 with a Congenital Heart Defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, or HLHS. The short explanation is that Travis was born with only half of a heart. In order for him to live, a series of three operations were planned.

Due to an infection, Travis had to have an additional open heart surgery to insert pulmonary artery bands on October 29, 2009. He had his Norwood Surgery on November 21, 2009. He was sent home on December 14, 2009 from Rady's Children Hospital of San Diego after spending his first 52 nights of life in the hospital.

After being home for several months, Travis was due to for his next surgery in the plan, the Glenn procedure. But the life of a cardiac kid can change in an instant and life doesn't always go as planned. Due to the anatomy of his heart and some rhythm issues, Travis had what the surgeons called Norwood part 2. They replaced his Sano Shunt with a bigger one, enlarged his pulmonary arteries and installed a pacemaker. This surgery was performed on May 3, 2010. Travis went home on May 17th, 2010.

Around Travis' first birthday in October his cardiologist detected some narrowing in his pulmonary artery and ordered a heart cath. The heart cath showed extensive narrowing in his aorta and his pulmonary artery. On February 17, 2011 Travis had his 4th open heart surgery. He was doing well with recovery until he suddenly went into cardiac arrest on Friday (2/18). After two hours of CPR Travis was placed on ECMO (a heart/lung bypass). Although his heart did begin to beat again on its own, his brain was damaged during the whole ordeal and he lost all brain function. We had to say goodbye to our beautiful boy on Saturday, February 19th. We miss our boy terribly.....