Matthew (2006)

Matthew (2005)

Matthew William was born on Thanksgiving, November 25, 2004 at 5:21 p.m. He weighed 6 lbs 7 oz.  One day after his birth we were told he had a slight heart murmur which was most likely innocent and not a concern. After two pediatrician visits and a murmur that “supposedly” went away and came back, his pediatrician decided we should take him to a cardiologist to be checked out

On February 4, 2004, we visited a well respected cardiologist in Central, NJ, and that day our whole world came crashing down. Matthew was checked out and we were told by a very callous doctor that he was a very sick baby and that we must get him to Children's Hospital in Philadelphia that same day. Needless to say we were in shock and kept asking, "What does Matthew have?" and all the doctor could say was he is a very sick little boy and nothing else. With that we ran home, gathered some things and took him to CHOP.  When we arrived at the hospital, he was given a follow-up ECHO, EKG and some blood tests, they decided to keep him over the weekend and do a cardiac catheterization to determine the extent of the problem the following Monday (Feb 7th, 2005)

After his catheterization on Monday we were given very grim news that he had serious Aortic and Pulmonary Stenosis and that he would require heart bypass surgery right away to correct the problem. We were also told he has the same CHD as children with Williams Syndrome, after many visits and tests by genetics doctors they ruled out the Williams Syndrome and we were advised that Matthew only has the same CHD issues.

Matthew had his bypass surgery on February 9, 2005. It was ruled a success, based on what they saw before they went in and after, it was told to us they were able to do more than they originally thought. He was healing so well actually that they released him on February 13th, right from the ICU.

Matthew William is a fighter and he recovered fast. When he was born, he showed no signs of having a CHD. He was eating, growing and seemed very healthy.

At 14-months old,  while still growing and doing well, he was sent back to CHOP in Philly to have another catheterization; during this procedure they took many pictures and tests. They were able to see that the aortic stenosis surgical site was doing very well and it was open and looked great. They did however need to perform some balloon dilation on the right pulmonary arteries. The goal of this was to open up the arteries so as to relieve some excess pressures in his heart. He again did excellent in surgery and was released the next day.

After some follow up echos and EKGs it was determined by Matthew’s new cardiologist and CHOP doctors that he should return to CHOP once again but this time to have the left pulmonary arteries dilated.

At 20 months (July 25th, 2006) he was admitted to CHOP for his left side catheterization.  The doctors also checked his right side.  It was told to us that the right side was severely stenotic and there was no change from the last visit.  While we were very disappointed, we were happy to see it had not gotten worse.  Hopefully with time it will grow with him.  The left side was dilated and the doctor was very happy with how it went. Matthew was home the next day again, and showing no signs of any issues, he is running jumping and (per his doctors) talking as much as most 2½ year-olds.

When all was finished we were told that this current course of action (catheterizations) should continue every 6-7 months (January/July).

Jennifer and I are surrounded by great family and friends who’s support is invaluable to us, every day is a new joy with our little miracle baby. He is our little angel and would not trade him for anything in the world.

Feel free to contact us if you would like to speak with us.