3-13-2005

I just wanted to send an update on Aliyah. We went to her pediatrician on Thursday for a sick visit as she was having trouble with slight pressure on her chest that would lead to coughing spells, and a little shortness of breath. After a chest x-ray and an EKG her Dr. said that her heart was enlarged somewhat but by no means "enormous" and she should go to Home Hospital for an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of her heart). She said one of the pediatric cardiologists from St. Vincent's serendipitously happened to be in town on Thursday's. So we went and did that and the Dr. came in and told us that she had cardiomyopathy or acute myocarditis which means that her heart muscle is not squeezing very strongly. This can be caused by a viral infection which goes to the heart or it can be more long standing. The viral kind (myocarditis) can be treated and some repair of the heart can occur in about 2/3 of those cases. The cardimyopathy cannot be cured and may result in a heart transplant down the road. He conferred with her peditiarician and because there are no pediatric cardiologists in Lafayette her Dr. wanted her to come here to St. Vincent's. At this point the doctor's have no way of knowing which type she has because there was no indication that she had any problems with her heart before last Thursday. They are treating her for the acute myocarditis and I'm praying that that is what type she has. Since she has been in the hospital she has been unable to keep down any food and developed some severe headaches.

This along with unusual heart rhythms can be side effects of the drugs she is taking. Well, she developed those last night at 10:30 and they continued for about an hour until the Dr. decided to take her off that drug and see what happened. This morning she has eaten a pretty large breakfast (and so far kept it down) and her headache has decreased. He heart rate is good but her blood pressure is lower than they would like to see. As they tell us there is a delicate balance that they need to maintain between heart rate and blood pressure. She is in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at this point but before she leaves she will be moved back upstairs. While she is in PICU there is a toll-free number you can call to talk to her or us . We'll keep you updated and please continue to pray for us all.Thanks!-Dana