Update 2 – surgery tomorrow

Today has been one giant roller-coaster.

Yesterday there were some ultrasounds taken of both the chest and heart which seemed to indicate a diaphragmatic hernia and that he would indeed need surgery by the end of this week. However, the radiologist wanted to do another set of scans to be sure, which he did this morning. The results of these second scans led the doctors to think that there was a good chance that surgery may not be needed (that it might be an eventration rather than a hernia of the diaphragm), however the surgeon would need to make the final diagnosis.

Naturally we were both elated. And then we got a visit from the surgeon.

Apparently whether an eventration or a hernia, it causes the same problems: intestines pushing against Max’s left lung and causing breathing difficulties. Not only did we find out that we will be having surgery, and were told all the possible risks and complications (which terrified me quite a bit), but that he goes into surgery tomorrow morning at 7:30am.

The surgery will last between 3 and 4 hours. Providing all goes well and he recovers from it normally (around 4 or so days), the long haul starts: getting him to eat normally. Once they determine that Max is eating (and pooping) normally we get to bring him home. However that could be weeks away. I’m hoping he has a typical Vanderzanden appetite and won’t have any problems eating, so he can come home soon.

Thanks to everyone for your support, all your calls, emails, etc are all helping both Kelly and I cope with all this.