BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Dakota went into surgery at 7:30 this morning and came out at 12:30. The doctors first performed a transesophegeal echocardiogram (down the esophogas to the heart) to check to see if there were blood clots in his heart, which there were none. Then through a line from a vein in his neck into his heart they took tissue from his right ventricle for a biopsy, checking for signs of current or past infection. They then did a heart catherization going through a vein near the groin and took pictures inside the heart. They tried to go inside his coronary arteries but couldn't because they were too small. But they injected dye to see how they were working and they seemed to be okay. At this point they were to implant his new pacemaker/defibrulator with an additional lead going to the left ventricle in addition to the right. They were unable to do so as the anesthesiologist who was keeping tabs on Dakota's levels decided that Dakota's heart was too sick to put him under additional anesthesia to take on another 3 hours of surgery in addition to the 5 hours he already had. So, now they will wait until they feel Dakota's heart is strong enough for the surgery to implant the pacemaker/defibrulator device, which could be a few days or a few weeks. They will also monitor how he does on all his new meds and will try to get him to a level where he can take this medication orally instead of by IV. It may be a blessing that they stopped before they did the defibrulator/pacemaker surgery as now the doctors question whether that's the best thing to do right now, but time will tell. They are pretty certain all this damage to his heart was caused by a virus of some sort and that his heart function has been decreasing significantly over the last several weeks or even months. They told us that this isn't even related to his current heart defect (Dakota has had 3 open-heart surgeries to this point), and that this could have happened to anyone. We thank all of you for your continued prayers for Dakota and us. Please continue to pray for wisdom for the doctors and all involved in Dakota's care! This is the latest I have gotten on Dakota Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Get well soon!!! Prayers to you Dakota!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Prayers sent to Dakota, hope you're doing better soon buddy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJL Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 The prayers of righteous men are both powerfull and effective..................... God Bless and thanks for the update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Thanks for the update....still sending my best wishes his way for a speedy recovery!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammerforged Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Continued prayers - Thanks for the update. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Thoughts and prayers are with you Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TennesseeTurkey Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Miss you buddy! take care and get well soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Andrus Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Wow poor kid... he's had a rough few years prayers for him and his family..who must be going thru HE** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 more prayers said for dakota. he's a pretty cool kid. even if he did gut an antlope in my yard. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nut Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Prayers and fingers crossed for Dakota. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griz Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Prayers are still with ya Dokota... Hang in there buddy... Griz... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Continued prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 OMG!! When did this all happen?? I never heard anything about him not doing well with his heart...geepers. Praying for ya Dakota!! Poor kid to have to deal with all this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Continued prayers Dakota! Hang in there buddy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidd Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 prayers continued from indiana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Continued thoughts and prayers from the Howard household for Dakota. Thanks for the updates Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 I really need to get in here more often. Prayers sent Buddy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kid Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 get well my monster buddy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Will continue to pray for you Dakota. Hope to see you out and about soon gutting another one in Steve's yard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Prayers heading his way! Very courageous young man. May God watch over him in his recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aksheephuntress Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 ....thinking about you, Dakota... -You are strong, and a fighter.... -continued prayers from Alaska- -will be praying for your mom,and dad, too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted April 14, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 New update on Dakota Met with the Heart Transplant cardiologists from the University of Nebraska Med Center this morning. They will be part of Dakota's cardiologist team from now on. The plan is to have his defibrulator/pacemaker surgery sometime next week. The transplant cardiologists want to exhaust all mechanical and medicinal means to try and regain Dakota's heart function before they start talking more seriously about a transplant. But, they have started the evaluation process. Dakota is resting in the Ped ICU right now. We are all in good spirits and know that God is carrying us through this! Thank you so much for your prayers - please keep them coming! Sounds like he still needs lots of prayers guys ..... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jorden Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Get better soon Dakota!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA_Spike_King Posted April 14, 2010 Report Share Posted April 14, 2010 Still praying here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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