Zhino's Heart Surgery

Last night, Zhino's mother was rather concerned that the scar on Zhino's chest may burst open as it had done so before. Even though I assured her that the wound was healing well and that the scab which came off was a good sign of the healing, she could not be consoled until this morning when I brought them back to Rambam Hospital, where the doctors all told her the same: Zhino's surgical wound is healing well. That put Zhino's mother at ease at last, and she was in the mood to go for some grocery shopping with me thereafter. Earlier in the day, as we could not get a taxi from our apartment, we had to take a shared taxi to Hagefen and then get onto a public bus.

Today Zhino heroically showed me the two staples at the top of her chest where the surgery wound had opened up during her shower yesterday. Another echo - cardiogram is required before she can be discharged from Rambam, and although the cardiology department's schedule seemed tight, I met Dr. Orman who agreed to give her the checkup today. The echo was done swiftly and the result was very good.

 

Today it was Zhino's turn to be admitted to Rambam Hospital. She and Um Zhino had to wake up a few hours earlier than their usual time, so that they could be at the hospital by 8.00am this morning.

In the waiting room, Zhino wanted to pose for the camera to show how brave she was gonna be. Then in the doctor's darkened room, Um Zhino had to hold down the restless and fretful child so that the echocardiogram could be done accurately.

Zhino's big eyes were round with wonder when she heard the strange sounds of her heart amplified! She kept saying, "Halas!" ("Finish!") and scrambled to have her clothes on once the echo was confirmed over, whereupon she was rewarded with stickers galore and a pretty star pendant.

Zhino's oxygen level is relatively good-- in the 90's. This belies the fact that she has a hole between the two ventricles (chambers) of her heart, and a narrowed pulmonary artery, besides two other minor defects. Beginning at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow, the doctors will perform the operation to close the holes, as well as to widen the pulmonary artery.

Pray also for peace and patience to be upon Um Zhino, who in recent days has been challenged by Zhino's restlessness and demands.

UPDATE: Today at 5:00 p.m., we met with the surgeon, Dr. Barel. He explained tomorrow's operation to Um Zhino via an Arab parent in the same ward. Um Zhino felt more at peace after meeting with the surgeon.