What To Expect

Good morning...

I wanted to post about what our options are for treatment in Minnesota. There are basically three options available to Allison, as far as we know currently.

One, there may possibly some type of vessel in the abdomen that, for whatever reason, failed to open and work at birth. There is a possibility that the physicians could use that vessel, open it up, stent it and make it work. This would be an ideal option as no artificial graft would need to be placed. This is something that Dr. Driscoll said may not be able to be known until they are physically looking inside.

Second, there is no useable vessel in the abdomen so an artificial vessel would need to be placed. This would entail a graft similar to things they use for aorta repair, etc. and it would have to be connected to all the smaller vessels leading off the IVC. This is a good option and there really wouldn't be anything like rejection meds or anything like that. This would be better than nothing.

Third, nothing surgically can be done. Dr. Driscoll was very optimistic about their being able to help Allee but this is still an option.

Obviously we are hopeful for some help for Allee. We are prayerful, though, that whatever the answers are and whatever may or may not be done that we are accepting of it and can process the information and live with it. It is so easy to get lost in the build up of hope that one could be devastated by less positive information.

Allison is doing good. She is getting over a sinus infection and an ear infection.
We are doing good as well. We would ask that you remember our other two daughters in this process. They are not able to go to Minnesota with us so that is hard. We are a very close family. They understand the limitations but it is still going to be hard for them. One will stay with family here in Alabama and the other is away at school in Tampa at Florida College. She will be finishing up her classes and going into final exams through it. We are just hopeful that everything will be wrapped up in time for us to all go to Tampa for her graduation from FC.

Have a great day...

Love,
Jennifer