Averi's Journey

Text Box: God Bless, The Averi Budde Foundation

$Text Box: Background Story My mommy recieved my diagnosis on January 23, 2007 (at 15 weeks gestation) with confirmation on March 1st. She was told I would require several heart surgeries to repair the defects. I have Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary atresia, VSD and ASD. My first surgery required me to go onto bypass, which was not anticipated before surgery. It was supposed to be a 3 hour procedure that took a little over 8 hours. My vessels were just too tiny, more so than we thought, so my body required a central shunt from my Aorta straight to my Pulmonary artery. I had a very difficult time during surgery and gave everyone quite a scare. My first few weeks were critical, my blood pressure was hard to stabilize and the doctors stayed in my room. The first few weeks after surgery brought many ups and downs and scary times.With lots of help from my nurses, docs, family and prayers I had begun to take steps towards recovery. My second surgery was going to be about 9 months later, but after my diagnostic Cardiac cath on August 27, the doctors decided I could not wait that long and scheduled my surgery for one week later September 4, 2007. September 4th surgery was 5 1/2 hours and went very smooth. I did very well going on and off heart/lung bypass and my full repair was achieved. I now have normal oxygen levels (YEA!) However, I suffered a heart attack sometime after surgery and am having difficulty with my ejection fraction (the pumping of the heart) I am on medication to help with this. Please keep us in your prayers as I continue to improve. April 8, 2008 We went to cardiology today and received our first good news. With the help of a big dose of Enalapril, my heart function (ejection fraction) has returned to 57%. Normal ejection fraction is 60% so we do not have to see cardiology for 6 months. YEAAA! October 28, 2008 update Our cardiology appt today revealed that my pulmonary artery is 40% closed and leaking. However we are hopefull that I can maintain well until April where we will then do a cath and stent the pulmonary artery in hopes to prolong replacement of the artery for another year. Also my heart function looks good, but we are staying on Enalapril until April just to make sure! January 2009 I went for a cardiac cath on January 8th and it was decided the pressures in my heart were too high and the pulmonary homograft was too closed. So on January 9th I had my 3rd open heart surgery to replace the homograft. I now have 16 mm RV-PA homograft that should hopefully carry me until Im around 8 to 10. I suffered a few seizures after the surgery and am awaiting an MRI in Feb 09 to rule out any stroke activity. I’m now home and doing beautifully! My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise." Psalm 57:7$