Update From Mike and Catherine

First things first, I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support that we’ve had these past two days.  Words can’t express how grateful we are for those that have expressed their love and concern.

I’ll try to keep the background of what happened as brief as possible so this doesn’t become a novel.  About 9:45 am on Tuesday morning Catherine received a phone call from the junior high saying that she needed to come because Ryan was having a seizure.  She arrived to find him not breathing on the floor of his classroom receiving CPR and mouth-to-mouth.  He was taken by ambulance to McKay-Dee and then life-flighted to Primary Childrens. 

After Ryan arrived at Primary’s the doctors were able to determine that he had experienced cardiac arrest.  An ultrasound revealed that walls of his heart had thickened (enlarged heart).  This is known as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.  The A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia says that “Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick. The thickening makes it harder for blood to leave the heart, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood……The first symptom of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy among many young patients is sudden collapse…….caused by very abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), or from the blockage of blood leaving the heart to the rest of the body.”

We were given the option of trying an experimental procedure of cooling his body.  A term for this is therapeutic hypothermia.  I believe this is a fairly common procedure among adults and infants, but the effects are still being tested on how children and adolescents react to the procedure.  It is supposed to reduce exertion on the heart by stopping most of the body’s motor functions.  Over a period of 4-6 hours his body temperature was reduced to approximately 92° F.  He will remain at this temperature for 72 hours and then they will slowly increase it back to normal over about 18 hours.  Once back to normal they will be able to take him off of the several medications (paralytic, sedation, etc.) that are making sure his body remains still during this time and that he doesn’t shiver due to the hypothermia.  Shivering causes the heart to work harder and also heats up the body. 

The procedure won’t be finished until possibly Saturday or Sunday.  We won’t have any new information until that time.  I may post some updates before then if there are any new developments.

Thanks once again for all of your prayers and offers for assistance.  It has helped reduce our stress about the other kids so that we can be here with Ryan.

Love,

Mike and Catherine