My buddy is going into the O.R right now.
 

Siitng in the inpatient room at Texas childrens hospital at the moment. He came in yesterday with an irregular heart beat and is having open heart surgery within the hr.

Thoughts and prayers are much needed right now.:(

Best wishes.

Prayers sent out to you and your friend!

Done. Send us updates when you can, Tom.

endochronitis? I think that's what the doc said. There are 32 cardiologists in the hospital and they have all come down to see him.

best of luck, I hope all goes well!

done,
you may have heard..endocarditis..

Rika

Best wishes Tom.

Best of luck Tom.

Thanks a lot guys. It's just a waiting game at this point. 4-6 hour procedure.

prayers for good luck.

Holy Schmoly!!!

Good thoughts and prayers coming.

It's acne! Crazy! The surgeon just came by to say how he was doing. Said it was going to be a couple more hrs. She said that one of his valves will always be messed up. This is all very depressing....

He will have to see a cardiologist for the rest of his life.

Done. Keep in touch with how he is doing.

Hopefully this will not be the case...my Dad had endocarditis. It affected the main aeortic valve and that was replaced with a specially grown pig valve. Yes he had to continue to see his cardiologist and was on anti-rejection drugs etc...but the whole procedure was successful. There are also mechanical valves that can be used for replacements, but Dad's cardio surgeon was not in favour as they don't last as long nor are they the best option for active people apparently (I don't remember all the reasons now as it was years ago).

Now, here's the SCARY part...Dad contracted endocarditis through an abcess on a tooth...delayed going to the dentist too long as he was always too busy...the bacteria entered the blood stream and went to the heart, damaging the muscle etc. The worst part was that endocarditis is not easy to diagnose. The experts need to step in here; but from what I remember it takes a long time to show in the blood cultures taken. It took a few weeks to know what was wrong; in the interim they were testing for leukaemia etc...only when the cultures were left long enough did the bacteria show and by that stage his heart muscle was damaged. Simple explanation I know, but that's how I remember it...

His heart was still as strong as ever when he died...bloody bowel cancer got him instead...

Way to make me feel better lisa...not! We are all trying to stay positive. There is a big group of us here, must be 15 of us.

Just got another visit. The infection was entangled in chordae in the right ventrical. Scary stuff. It coverd everything.

Said the heart was pretty messed up. Now they are heading towards the pulmonary artery to see the damage downstream. It's going to be a long night...

Thank you again guys. Even though this family is not my own, it still is way to close to home. To go from perfectly healthy to having open heart surgery in two days it's just way to sudden.

Ya got mine! My mom had a quintuple bypass at 88 and, God rest her soul, passed at 95, still kvetching that it was "Indigestion! I didn't have a heart attack! I know my body better than the doctors!" God bless the doctors - your friend is most likely in the best hands.

This is the Doc. Supposedly the best of the best.

Texas Children's Hospital - Find a doctor

Well I meant for you to stay positive...not to be scared by initial reports from the surgeons...what I was trying to say to you was that there may be options...and that Dad had great results in his 60s...sorry if I didn't convey the right message. Dad's cancer had absolutely nothing to do with his heart...his heart was in great working order and the pig valve transplant was a wonderful success. There are so many options now with cardio surgery...I am amazed with what can be achieved...

Sounds like he has had this infection for a while though...but you all stay positive...remember there may always be options! And under the care of a great cardiologist he will do well...remember that.

Prayers sent....

BR>>best of luck to your friend. i'll check back later!

Btw this is not a fully grown adult. he is only 16.

He's in the best place he can be. Have faith, all is well.

Best of luck to all concerned. That's great of you to sit for him!

Great news guy! The heart has good echo and pumping just fine. This is Great! He just bought himself 6 more weeks until round two.

The doc said that the mass was 10cmx4cm. The group of surgeons said that if they were to see the scan without knowing the case would immediatly think it was a fetus. It was just floating around in the right ventrical.

Great news, Tom. Those young whippersnappers bounce back pretty fast sometimes.

Wow! great news. My family is sending prayers and thoughts.

Oh mannn...that's tough. Just tough! :(

He just got wheeled out. Mom and dad doc to the head doc. He said in 13 years he has never seen a mass this large. Just tueday he was playing tennis acting like a normal teenager. Crazy.

In ICU with a dedicated cardio nurse. All is well, and I'll see him in an hour.

edit: I am getting tierd. Way to many errors. Need coffee...

Crazy. Hang in there--he's got some good friends. Best of luck to him.

Hoping for the best BR.

God Bless, Tom.

The good thing is that when you're young you can heal quickly. Hospitals suck though - best of luck with it all.

Hospitals are plain boring. This one sure is nice though! It's almost as if it's a hotel with a hospital as a little extra money maker. I have my very own room to sleep in. Thank you ronald mcdonald!

Ronald McDonald House is pretty awesome, used to be a pretty good BBQ place right close to there.

Dude, that is some *****, kids bounce back pretty fast

Prayers sent Tom. God Bless, stay positive for everyone and keep positive.
Like Dan said, he's in the best place he can be AND it's 2010, not 1910; he'll be fine.

I've been in these 'hospital' situations with loved ones and its hard not to let your mind slip into the worst possible scenarios, but keep your mind on the best outcome and the positive aspects of his situation; such as he's in good hands and the doctors today have all the technology to make him better. Facts have proven 50% of our health has to do with our attitudes, so keep your friend and his support group positive, thankful and appreciative.

God speed buddy.

Great docs and hospitals in Houston, he's in good hands. Hopes and prayers for a speedy recovery!

Thanks again for the kind words everyone. He is starting to wake up on his own. The machine is still breathing for him, but he takes a few breaths himself every so often.

Just took a 5 hr nap and ready to go.

I'm sure my prayers are the ones that worked! I am going to become a faith healer. :D Good news on your friend.