Miracle Mason: update #2

Sunday, April 4, 2010

update #2

So sorry.....they haven't updated me as frequently as I thought!

All is going very well!

9:00 Began the chest incision.

10:45 Began placing the new heart in Mason!!!!

Doing good on bypass.

We feel your prayers and love.

THANK YOU!

16 comments:

Kim Muir said...: My heart goes out to your family. Thank you Summer for sharing your touching journey. Although I don't always follow the blog when I do pull it up my heart is always warmed by the love and endurance you portray. Of course I HAD to pull up this post!!! A new heart for Mason on Easter!!! Our prayers are with you that all will go well. I will be watching for the updates. Much love- The Muir Family; April 4, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Jessica said...: I am Jessica, Angel Bridger's Aunt, and I have followed Mason story since Bridger got his wings and I am so excited for your family and especially for Mason for getting his perfect heart. Mason and your family are in my thoughts today and I wish you all luck and send my love your way.; April 4, 2010 at 12:28 PM
Ivannape said...: I Just wanted to say That I am praying for your sweet little Mason and family. I have been fllowing Masons story for over a year now. WHat an amzing little guy he is. I will continue to pray for your sweet family. Lots of Love Pena Family; April 4, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Linda said...: WOW...what an amazing Easter for you and your darling family! I wish you much luck and love. My thoughts and prayers are with you!; April 4, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Jason Mitchell said...: Our continued thoughts and prayers are with you guys! Be strong, little Mason!; April 4, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Lisa Marie Trent said...: Wonderful news.; April 4, 2010 at 12:57 PM
Victoria Nelson said...: We are praying!! How symbolic for this to be on Easter sunday.
New heart. New life. Thank you Jesus.

Love and prayers,
Victoria and family; April 4, 2010 at 1:14 PM
Joan said...: This is a wonderful easter gift. I hope all goes well.; April 4, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Sister Lark said...: Come on Mason! You can do it....we are thinking of your family right now and you are in our prayers! Keep us posted...love you all; April 4, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Hollie said...: Oh Summer! I just cannot stop the tears from falling! What a wonderful Easter gift for you and your family. I saw on Facebook that Mason was getting his angel heart, and my soul was filled with joy as I realized that your family was there to be with you during this amazing part of his journey. How fitting that as we celebrate the rebirth of our Saviour that you are celebrating a 'rebirth' for your precious Mason. Prayers are indeed answered. Our Father in Heaven is mindful of us, and he does open the Heavens and pours out gifts and tender mercies to us. My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you, Mason and the rest of your family as you now look forward to a new lease on life!
Love,
Hollie, Ben and Elaina <3; April 4, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Sister Lark said...: Sorry...that last comment was from Momlark!; April 4, 2010 at 1:50 PM
Dusty and Kylee Zundel said...: come on Mason....you can do it!!!!!!; April 4, 2010 at 1:50 PM
The Simmons Family said...: I AM SO EXCITED and bawling at the same time!!! What a perfect Easter!! We are praying for Mason and also for the precious family that is mourning their Angel this Easter.

I am going to be checking back the rest of the day for updates! Hugs to you all and SO thankful you are surrounded by your entire family!! God is SO good!!; April 4, 2010 at 1:51 PM
Shari said...: I have been praying for Mason and I am so excited. The tears of joy for your family are streaming down my cheeks! Thank you for updating.; April 4, 2010 at 2:23 PM
Jennifer said...: What what WHAT!? Oh my gosh! I haven't read any of your recent posts yet....but Mason got a HEART!?; April 4, 2010 at 11:10 PM
iron zenger said...: my mom said your family was to busy to see your family and mason im so sad they everyone in your family is leaving on Apri 11,2010.
from nori(p.s. im the one who droped of the food for your family and saw you wave back to us); April 10, 2010 at 4:12 PM

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Mason Andrew Strickland was born on November 30, 2007! He came 3 weeks early at the American Fork Hospital, weighing in at 5 lbs 8 oz . He is the baby brother to 3 brothers and 1 sister. At 3 days old he became very sick at home. After a trip by LifeFlight to Primary Children's Hospital that afternoon he was diagnosed with a variation of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Mason will need at least 3 open heart surgeries before he is 3 years old. He had his first surgery when he was 10 days old and spent 7 weeks in the hospital. He had his 2nd surgery at 6 months old and only spent 1 1/2 weeks in the hospital. Mason also has issues with arythmias which has caused him some scary moments, a 2nd trip by Life Flight, and more time back at Primary's PICU. We feel blessed for everyday we have him here with us. We have created this blog to follow our journey through life with our little broken hearted baby, Miracle Mason (with a few tid bits about the rest of the family too).

It's now October 3, 2009 and Mason's story needs be updated. In April 2009 Mason was diagnosed with lowered heart function (or heart failure). From April through now he has been on medications and oxygen to help improve his heart function. In August, with no improvement seen in his echos we began the process to list him for a heart transplant. He is unable to get the 3rd surgery (or Fontan) as planned because of his heart failure. On Sept, 3, 2009 he had his pre-transplant Heart Cath (the last thing needed to list him for a new heart). The results that day have left us heart broken. He was diagnosed with severe pulmonary vein stenosis and is unable to receive a heart transplant. He will now need a heart-lung transplant, if he is a viable candidate. Since Primary's does not have a heart-lung program we are seeking opinions from other hospitals (outside of Utah) at this time. Even though we are extremely saddened with his most recent diagnosis, we continue to find joy in our journey with our special child of God, our sweet Mason.

(In November 2009 we learned of another possible option for Mason. CHOP and Stanford have both talked to us about doing just a heart transplant to his own one healthy lung. At this time we are exploring that option and the possibility of it being another true miracle for "Miracle Mason".)

February 16, 2010 Mason and I (Mom) flew to Palo Alto, California to do a few last tests and get Mason listed for a new heart(heart only!! not heart-lung!!) at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. We are excited and nervous to start this new chapter of our journey.

March 3, 2010 Mason was officially listed on the Heart Transplant waiting list as a 1B status. Mason and I will wait here in Palo Alto until he receives the miraculous gift of a new heart. We miss our family at home very much!

April 4, 2010 (Easter morning) Mason received his new heart. It was the best Easter gift our family could ever be given. We are eternally grateful to his donor family who during their time of loss selflessly gave our Mason a second chance at life.

July 16, 2010 Mason and Mom flew home to Utah to reunite with their family. Mason is still very immunosuppressed in order to avoid rejection of his new heart, but definitely happy to be home playing w/ his brothers and sister!!

January 30, 2012 Mason continues to do well with his new heart. He finally came off of steroids after 18 months in October 2011! Mason is walking with the help of a walker in hopes to walk alone soon. He conitues to have a few episodes of a pneumonia each year, probably due to only having one working lung. He also has a few new issues we are facing .....sleep apnea and severe scoliosis. But, over all he continues to face life with a fight and a big smile!

April 11, 2012 Mason had back surgery because his scoliosis had worsened to a curve of 75% (normal is 0-15%). He had two rods placed in his back, better known as the VEPTR (Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib). It was a rough recovery, but after about 8 weeks he was feeling much better. Every 6 months he will go in for a minor surgery to extend the rods to keep up with his growth.

May 25, 2012 We finally got into a sleep doctor and she diagnosed Mason with sleep hypoxia, rather than actual apnea. Because of narrow airways his sats dip frequently through out the night, but he doesn't completely stop breathing (good news!). So he was perscribed to be on one liter of oxygen at night while asleep.

July 20, 2012 Mason finally walks all on his own!!

Not a day goes by that we don't think about Mason's donor family who has given our little miracle boy the gift of LIFE! Thank you where ever you are!