His new valve is working "beautifully"

Jensen is still resting and getting stronger. They tried to take him off of the ventilator this morning but he wasn't ready yet, so they will do it tomorrow. He is still heavily sedated though he did open his eyes and look at me briefly. One of the nurses made a comment about his eyes...those eyes. Everyone is taking great care of him there. I usually don't get to go during the day, but today I did and got a chance to hear a conversation between three heart doctors and one was Dr. Brown who did the surgery. I heard two of them say that the new valve was working "beautiful". Dr. Brown told them that it should last "a long time". He also said "it was only the second one in the world like it." Most of the other things I heard, I didn't understand, but what I did understand was great!

I did talk to the pediatric cardiologist after the other two left. He said the the valve is from a cow's neck vein. You see, we have valves in our veins to help the blood return to the heart and overcome gravity. Cow's have these valves in their veins also to help the blood get back to their hearts when they bend down and graze. The cows neck vein valves are large enough to replace an infant heart valve. They have been replacing the pulmonary valves on children for a couple of years by catherization. They call it the melody valve, and it is sewn inside a metal stent and placed in the pulmonary artery. www.wtvq.com/health/4388-melody-heart-valve.html The way the doctor explained it, this is only the second time for using one of these valves for the tricuspid valve. Dr. Brown had to install it in a "top hat" to make it work. The valve is 20 mm in diameter. The valve also has three leaflets just like a human tricuspid valve. That is where the tri comes from.

The doctor also said his left side is working much better, and he didn't seem concerned with it. All in all, it was divine timing for me to be there to talk to the doctors myself. Please pray for all the details to come together, like his breathing, eating, electrolyte balance, and of course his heart function. Pray also for Jeff and Anna. The Bible tells us the Lord won't give us more than we can handle, and this is no exception, but it is taxing on them.