More Answers and Updates: From Kay
We want all you prayer partners to know just how huge your prayers and what they accomplished. The technical name for Milan's condition that prompted the emergency surgery is Cardiac Tamponade. This is a rapid accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sack that surrounds the heart. This build up puts pressure on the heart causing it to be unable to pump adequately to supply oxygen to the body. I did some research and every article said this is a life-threatening condition that is a medical emergency. The condition progresses rapidly and is "universally fatal" if not diagnosed and treated promptly.

Our experience in the hospital on Saturday was anything but prompt. All I can say is God was answering our prayers to keep Milan alive in spite of their snail's pace. Had I known what I know now, I would have been screaming up and down the halls to get a doctor into the room sooner. All day it was nurses and nurse practitioners. I realize now, in hindsight, that I was watching Milan's body shut down that Saturday. He was so weak he could not stay awake. He slept through a blood draw and the echocardiogram. His hands and feet were freezing because blood was being diverted to the vital organs. He did not eat one bite of food for two days. His skin on his chest was purple and molted on Saturday by noon. I found out later this was another sign of his body shutting down. He looked five months pregnant (his body could not get rid of the fluid because his kidneys were not working and his liver was swollen according to Dr. Seleah). His legs were si swollen he had no visible knees or ankles. In spite of this his oxygen levels (according to the monitor) were good which is why they kept telling me "he's stable".
The doctor that finally did walk into the room, Dr. Seleah, is known through out the hospital as "the genius". He was called in on the case because he is a kidney specialist and Milan's kidneys were barely functioning. Turns out he has other specialties as well. It only took him 45 seconds to determine Milan was in big trouble and he started ordering everyone around to get him into ICU NOW! and into emergency surgery ASAP. It all happened so fast after Dr. Seleah came. I credit him with saving Milan's life or… should I say, God used him to save Milan's life.
We have been home for 10 days and make progress day by day. Milan's lost 15 pounds of fluid and looks like himself again. He is very tired and a bit discouraged by how low his energy level is. It does get a tiny bit better every day. I keep reminding him how much his body has gone through. I'm surprised how exhausted I am too and have slept a lot. It was a very difficult emotional experience for me to see Milan so weak and feel discounted by the nurses who kept telling me all the signs I just described ( I pointed them all out) were no big deal. When I started asking questions after the second surgery, boy did I get the run-around.
We saw Dr. Laxs who did the original repair several days ago. His work on Milan's heart was very successful and the repaired valve is working perfectly. He was on vacation when all this happened and was very troubled by our story and all that happened. He assured us it would be looked into and discussed among their entire team.
So you all had a part in Milan's survival and we continue to need your prayers for patience and wisdom as we recover from this ordeal. Thanks to all of you who posted your love and prayers on the blog. Your words of love and encouragement have meant so much to us. Love and Thanks, Kay