First Status -Oct 2

Originally Posted Oct 2, 2008 10:47am

I just wanted to give an update on Marki’s situation. But first to bring everyone up to speed in case you had not heard what is going on.

Approximately 2 weeks ago, Marki began having severe chest pains and numbness in her left arm, pressure, and shortness of breath – this continued on and off through-out the day (though I did not know until late that night). The following day she began to have the same symptoms along with pain running from her chest into her neck. This is when we took her to the ER – here is where we learned that she had several heart conditions that they noted were abnormal...but not necessarily abnormal for her.. A murmur (no big deal), Athletic Heart Syndrome (no big deal..for her), and Junctional Bradycardia (again no big deal ...for her) with the exception of the murmur (which they say most kids have) the other two are all due to her athletic conditioning. However, they still could not explain the chest pain, and believed it really had nothing to do with any of the pre-mentioned conditions. So in short... He decided to refer her to a cardiologist and restricted her activities until the cardiologist released her...just in case there really was a ‘cardiac’ issue.

We saw the cardiologist last week and after her echocardiogram they discovered that her right coronary artery is not coming out of the Aorta where it should. At first they believed this to be ‘abnormal’ but was ‘within tolerance’ and should be no issue. However after further review with another Doctor they recommended more images – better\more clear to determine exactly where the artery is originating. However they did not want to send her for the CT scan unless it was truly necessary – This is due to increased risk of cancer in children due to radiation. Therefore we elected to wait and let the team of cardiologist review the case and the echocardiogram results to determine the next steps.

So here we are. The group of cardiologists met yesterday and the Dr. noted that they ALL stated Marki will need to have the CT scan. From the best I could derive from the conversation – without the Dr. giving up too much... They are concerned that it is further over toward the left side then they originally thought... Or it is even possibly coming out of the left side which is not good. But from the original images – they could not say for sure (or at least were not telling me). – This anomaly is a approx .03 - .07 chance of occurrence.

So what does this mean? Depending upon where the artery is originating and at what angle it’s coming out will determine the next steps. It is possible they could take a look and determine that it is higher than it should be but is still ok. Or...where the real issue is that if it is high, kinked, having pressure placed on it - potentially cutting off the blood supply- or in the opposite side... Then this will require heart surgery. What they do will depend on the exact anatomy of the artery and where and how it goes into the aorta. With the fact that they all wanted a better image and based off the limited conversation – the expectation is that we are heading down the surgery path.. - She noted that we needed to be prepared for it.

So today...we are still waiting on the scheduling of the CT Scan...which they want to be done at Shands because it has the best CT imaging for the heart. The down side to this is they are saying that this may take a month to get the appointment. - Me nor the Dr. want to wait this long considering she is continuing to have intermittent chest pains (but nothing like before). - So I think they are trying to see what they can do. So pray we can get the scheduled ASAP.

Until then... Marki will continue to be on restricted activities. When I informed her, the first words out of her mouth was “So I guess I’m not going to state” referencing her Cross Country season that will be all but gone by then. But then as I started to say. ”Better.. She finished the sentence...”Better off missing State than being dead’. She is also missing her Club Soccer and potentially High School soccer seasons – which she is not fond of doing. As I understand it, this issue is one of the reasons of Sudden Death... You know, the ones where you hear that normal, healthy, even well conditioned Athletes drop to death on the field/court...with no previous history. - Fortunately (assuming this is as it seems) Marki had symptoms that allowed us to find this before it came to this. Thank You Jesus

I believe that everything happens for a reason – even if you don’t know it for years away... I Personally think some of the “symptoms” still all goes back to when Marki was hit by a very hard kicked soccer ball (We love you Vanessa!) in the Chest several years ago – we thought she broke her sternum but in the end they said it was a bruised xiphiod process - and took months to heal – but this is where she first started mentioning chest pain. For a long time, they just kept saying it was still due to a long healing process from the bruising, then on occasion we thought maybe it was reflux... But I believe if she was not in-tune to the chest pains after the hit, we would not be alert enough to address the heart. She also has a good friend ( and soccer team member) who had a defribulator implanted in her chest at the age of 16 – so we are very aware of the seriousness when you see those symptoms.

So with all that being said... Whooooo – sorry didn’t mean to be so long-winded. I have attached a CT scan (not hers) of the Aorta and the Right coronary artery. Her’s may not be this bad, but it will at least let you see what the Aorta and the right coronary artery looks like.

Please pray...1) for a CT scan to be done ASAP – this is for two reasons. First we obviously want to know ASAP what the situation is, but also if in the event she is released back to her normal activities, then it is sooner than later so that she does not miss anymore of the cross-county or soccer seasons (Which she really wants to be a part of).
2) Pray for God’s direction and hand is this situation and that His will be carried out.

3) Pray for Marki – and peace. She is not one to vocalize when she is worried.. and being teenager – that says enough.