Mom Update 1-12-10 (Surgery is Complete)

Mom is out of surgery and in ICU recovering. Surgery lasted a little over 3 hours.

Here are the details of surgery:
Replaced the tricuspid valve (with a pig valve)
After getting in there, the heart valves were in worse shape than originally thought to be. Decided to also repair the mitral valve.
Other two valves were also in need of a repair (leaking), but felt that the tricuspid replacement and mitral valve repair were all that surgery she could withstand.
Heart muscle seemed strong. A little stiff, but strong.
Kidneys did not function as well as the doctor had expected.
Probably will need dialysis again to remove more fluid and remove toxins. (Should know more about this in a day or so).
The lungs were damaged from radiation (breast cancer in 1992). One lung was stuck to the chest wall and other one was scarred.
Doctor removed fluid from around lungs while he was in there.
Will continue to have breathing problems, but seems optimistic she will be in much better shape!

The doctor basically said that he did the best that he could with what he had. He said that she would definitely get "sicker" before she would get better. She has a long road ahead.

She will be in ICU a minimum of 24 hours, but probably more like 3-4 days. Depends on how she does. She will be out (asleep and on a ventilator) for a day or so. She is hooked up to so many wires, tubes, etc. They are currently pacing her heart with the pacemaker wires they put in there. But should remove those in a few days if all goes as expected.

We feel blessed that surgery went well and her heart started back beating! Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers!