Day 3

I would like to share a bright moment of our day. Alex (16) spent the day at the hospital with the family on Tuesday - Day 1. The 3 younger children knew that Ryan was sick and that he was in the hospital, but they didn't understand why. It was so hard for them to be home, away from mom and dad, and know Ryan was sick. Today family members brought the three youngest children to Primary's. They started out by having lunch in the cafeteria with mom and dad (what an adventure!). Then they went to a special play room where social workers talked with them about Ryan. They were each given a rag doll, and the social worker explained to them about IV's, tubes, and the other various things they might see when they saw Ryan for the first time. They were apprehensive, but anxious to see their brother. Michael and Catherine took the two older children in to see Ryan. It was hard for them at first, but they were so sweet with their big brother. They talked to him and told him how many people love him and how many cards and phone calls they are receiving. They stroked his arms and he got a lot of love from these two precious little children. He even got a good-bye kiss from his little sister. It was poignant to watch, and this grandma had to turn around and face the wall when the good-bye kiss was given. I couldn't let her see me cry. I know mom and dad were being strong for the children, and they couldn't show the emotions they were feeling. After the kids left, the nurse told us that she had been watching Ryan's monitor while the kids were there talking with him. She said his blood pressure went down 15 points! It was evident that Ryan knew his siblings were there with him, and that they calmed him with their presence. Is there anything better or stronger than the love of a family?!

Okay, Michael, you can tell about the rest of Ryan's day - and all of the medical happenings.

Love and hugs - from Grandma Jeri

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