Baby Boys

Hi all,

Last Tuesday, I became a father. I know many of you have found out about our identical twin baby boys through conversations in-world, but I've not said anything on the forums until now.

The reason I've decided to post at this time is that both our sons have some struggles to get through. John Henry (we call him Henry) and Elliot James were premature, having been born at 33 weeks of gestation. At the time of their births, they each weighed 3 pounds, 8 ounces. Henry is following a fairly normal course considering his prematurity, and is spending time in the NICU at Children's Hospital. He is progressing well and we expect to take him home in a couple weeks.

Elliot has a little tougher road ahead of him, and is also at Children's Hospital in their cardiac area. He has been diagnosed with "Transposition of the Great Arteries", which means that his aorta and pulmonary arteries are reversed. This can be corrected surgically, and they see fairly high levels of success. I'll explain a little more thoroughly what's going on, but you can also find more information at: http://pted.org/htms/tgad1.htm

In a normal heart, unoxygenated blood comes in from the body into the left atrium, where it collects prior to being pumped into the left ventricle. From the left ventricle, blood is pumped up through the pulmonary arteries into the lungs. It then returns, now oxygenated, into the right atrium, where it collects prior to being pumped into the right ventricle. It then is pumped out through the aorta to the rest of the body. Here's a quick summary of the flow, which is one big loop:

Body -> Left Atrium -> Left Ventricle -> Pulmonary Artery -> Lungs -> Right Atrium -> Right Ventricle -> Aorta -> Back to Body


Because Elliot's pulmonary artery and aorta are switched, he winds up with two loops. One circulates blood from the body, through the left atrium, to the left ventricle, and back out through the aorta back to the body. The other sees blood come back in from the lungs, into the right atrium, to the right ventricle, and back out the pulmonary artery to the lungs.
Left Loop: Body -> Left Atrium -> Left Ventricle -> Aorta -> Back to Body
Right Loop: Lungs -> Right Atrium -> Right Ventricle -> Pulmonary Artery -> Back to Lungs

Because of his ductus arteriosis (connection between the pulmonary artery and aorta), ASD (hole between the atria), and VSD (hole between the ventricles), Elliot's unoxygenated blood from the left loop and oxygenated blood from the right loop are able to mix, allowing him to survive.

The size of Elliot's VSD has a lot to do with the timing of his surgery, along with the blood pressures in each of these loops. In a newborn baby, pressures in the lungs and the rest of the body are fairly similar, but as they mature the blood pressure in their lungs decreases. Lower blood pressures in the lungs among other things allow oxygen and other gasses to more readily dissolve in the blood and keeps saturation percentages high. This is normally a good thing, but in Elliot's case it can be dangerous. Because his right ventricle is going to be switching duties after the surgery, going from pumping to the lungs to pumping to the rest of the body, there is a danger that it will get 'comfortable' with handling the lower pressures in the lungs. If this happens, doctors are concerned that when asked to pump blood at the higher pressures that are associated with the rest of the body, the right ventricle could have a hard time keeping up.

Doctors are keeping a close eye on Elliot's pulmonary blood pressures to ensure that the situation doesn't become a dangerous one. At the point where they see the pulmonary pressures begin to drop significantly, they will begin moving toward surgery. They will be able to tell when this happens because his saturation percentages will elevate significantly (oxygen dissolves more readily at lower blood pressures) and they will see significantly more fluid on his lung x-rays (blood will naturally move toward areas of lower pressure).

Going back to why the size of Elliot's VSD is significant, it allows for some pressure balancing between the left ventricle and right ventricle. Higher pressures from the left ventricle are transmitted to the right ventricle through the VSD, keeping his right ventricle from becoming too acclimated to lower pressure operation. This is important, because it gives Elliot more time to grow before his surgery occurs. Time to grow will help make things a little larger and easier on the surgeon, and will allow more time for the rest of Elliot's body to mature which will aid in his recovery.

We're not entirely sure when Elliot's surgery will be, but it could be anytime from tomorrow to a month or more from now. We talk to his surgeon today and will hopefully then have a better idea of when to expect the surgery to be performed. We have been told that although the surgery is complex, they have high levels of success and kids that are treated this way go on to live normal lives.

Anyway, I know many of you have been wondering where I might have been so there you have it. I hope that by posting this Elliot and Henry can be in a few more peoples' thoughts and prayers. If any of you have any questions, you can post them and I'll try to answer them as I find the time. Needless to say, life is pretty busy right now so it could be awhile.

Thanks to all of you for your support, it means a lot. I have a lot of faith that these little boys will get well and come home healthy.

-Morse Dillon

Morse- Your family will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers. Please let the community know by posting here when and if there is a surgical date set, time permitting of course.

Awww Morse. Congratulations. I will keep you and your family and boys in my prayers. They can do wonderful things for premies these days and it sounds like they diagnosed Elliot's condition very quickly. My daughter was born 12 weeks early, was in a NICU for 2 months, and came home at 4 lbs one month before her actual due date lol. Anyway, she is 25 now Huggers

I'm never good at words for things like this. On one hand i want to say congratulations and on the other i want to say hugs and best wishes...

Congratulations on becoming the father of twins! I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Do keep us posted.

Way to go King Morse! I hope and pray that the new heirs pull through this just fine and will make sure to send up a special prayer for Prince Elliot. Give my best to the Queen.

Salazar Jack

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

-Ghoti

...my thoughts are with you, your wife and your sweet little boys. I will say a prayer for all of you. I have feeling things are going to be all right! And I have great intuition about these things Morse -- you know that.

And by the way....many, many congratulations on being a Daddy. You will be a great one.

*hug

~Luv

Congratulations on the twins! Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

In my prayers too, Morse. I know we don't know each other, but if you ever need to talk, find me here or IW. Sometimes, I know, it helps to talk to someone totally removed from the situation.

Kat

Congratulations on the birth of your sons, Morse and Missus. I will take pause often as I did after reading your email and post and say a prayer that both boys will be home, 100% healthy, happy and blessed always.

God Bless you and yours.

the good kings had sons? congratulations! i know it may be bittersweet now, but i hope that your son will pull through and have many many years of happiness to offset the brief sadness of his condition.

Congratulations on the birth of your sons! Your whole family will be in my thoughts and prayers, though I do not have the pleasure of knowing you.

My sincerest wish for health, happiness and long life for both of your boys. My prayers will be with you all, especially Elliot, that he comes through his (eventual) surgery well, and that his recovery is swift. All the best for you & the mrs., too.

May you have the strength of your children and my prayers that things will work. It wil be slow no matter what and I will continue to pray for your you bambinos.

Bless you all.

Reve Monde

Morse,

I consider you a great friend, and more importantly, a great person.

I'm sure your twins possess many of the same benefits in life that you do, yourself. While born premature - as we knew they would be - they will possess your sense of success, your will to succeed, and your ability to love that is so rare in these days. Its funny - well, not really - but now that Jennyfur and I are married, I find that people I consider true friend in situations like these do not need the most love... they merely need to be reminded of THEIR STRENGTH - and why I consider them great friends. You are one of those. You are a great friend, and you have GREAT STRENGTH - therefore - your children will, as well.

Morse, this will end well, and Jennyfur and my thought will be with you, not just until the end of this time... but until the end of time.

Call me, talk to me, any time. I'm here.

Regards,

-FlipTim

Morse-

I don't have any kids of my own, but my best friend has two sons. I love them with all of my heart.

Hearing about your boys reminds me of them.

I'm so happy to see such overwhelming support from everyone else. But I know in situations such as these, there is no such thing as "too much support."

If you ever need anything... Someone to rag on, kick around or just talk to; I'm here as well. God Mode antics or the sight of a Linden setting some unsuspecting soul on fire can cheer many a person up, if only for a second

All kidding aside, my heart is truly with your family.

Sincerely,
Bub Linden

Dear Morse: all of our thoughts will be with you over this time. Congratulations on the births of your sons and I will remember your family in my prayers, wishing for their improved good health and successful medical care. *soft hugs* ~ Perse

Congratulations Morse, you and your family will be in my thoughts

congrats on the babys ,
my son was born with a similar conditon (vsd & misplaced aorta )
both corrected now , but anyways if you have any Questions or anything feel free to Pm me.
and dont worry the Docs that do this stuff are some of the best in the world

I had to take a moment from our trip to post here, Morse. You, your wife, and your tiny sons are well loved! I will keep all of you in prayer. As a mother of a preemie, I know it can be overwhelming at times. It helps to know that you don't need to have all the answers or even invincible strength. You guys are caretakers to these little souls; they're in Bigger Hands. Much, MUCH love to you and your wife, King Morse. I look forward to hearing about the resilience and fortitude of young Elliot when I get back.


Love ya,
Nethermind

Just gonna bump this thread for Mr. Dillon

I do wish the very best for you and your family.

Rice

A little update...

The boys just had their "1 month birthday" yesterday. Henry is looking like he'll get out of the hospital within a week or so, and Elliot continues to grow in preparation for his heart surgery. We've had some major ups and downs since I posted this thread, but currently everyone is stable and moving forward. If I had to guess, I'd say that we're looking at Elliot's surgery in 3 or 4 weeks and a few weeks of recovery thereafter. Nothing like spending the summer away from home, but I think in the future we'll just send these boys to camp

Sounds very good, Morse!

coco

It's very kind of you to keep us updated, Morse. And thanks for popping into SL last night - your virtual family is rooting your boys on. Grow, grow, grow!


We love ya, and can't wait to see family homecoming photos.


~Nether