Dear Family and Friends, I am happy to report to you that the procedures and surgeries that took place on December 17, 18 and 19 were completely successful! Katlin was discharged from Presbyterian Hospital on Saturday the 20th. The following Tuesday we drove to N. Carolina to spend a family Christmas with Katlin, Candice, Eric and Keira (our 4 year old granddaughter). We are back in Battle Creek and Katlin is settled in Pittsburgh and will go back to work early next week. We are thankful to God for answered prayers from you and many others who dont even know Katlin. The stint is a remarkable thing and we are grateful to the FDA for the compassionate approval of its use for Katlin. To give you an idea of what this remarable devise is and how it got to the correct location: • The stint is about 3 in length. It is Katlins internal Bling. It looks similar to a tube like chain link fence - 95% Platinum, 5% Idiom, 5% 24K Gold with Gortex sheathing wrapped around the outside. • Through a catheter Dr. K placed the stint in a collapsed position in the area of the baffle containing the holes. • The baffle is a tube like tunnel made 30 years ago from the outside layer of Katlins heart which made it possible for the red and blue blood not to mix. • When the stint was in place Dr K. opened it to a larger size than the baffle area which sealed the holes. Dr. K told us that she tested the seal and there was 0% leakage. Katlin also got a new MRI friendly Pacemaker which should last another “tenish” years. Katlins heart will never be fixed or normal. Her plumbing is mixed up. What pumps to your lungs pumps to her body and vice versa. The wonderful research and skill of the doctors at Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh have made it possible for Katlins heart to be made functional. She is truly blessed to live 20 minutes from this tremendous institution which will provide all the 30,000 mile checkups like what she just had and will need throughout the years to come. Again, thank you for your prayers, well wishes and the many prayer lists you placed her on. Our family got a tremendous gift this year in Katlin’s renewed health. Each one of us in the Hetzel-Miller family wish each one of you a truly wonderful 2015! We wish each of you a wonderful New Year filled with health and happiness and joy. Love to all, Judi
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 23:55:38 +0000
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