DAY 4: ECMO

Everything has been relatively quiet for Darby Kate as they have been slowly weaning her off the ECMO machine over night.

Will is praying for his little sister too!

Post from Brittney:  Some of you may not know but in 1980, 33 years ago, I also had heart surgery here in Birmingham. Mine was not nearly as severe as Darby Kate's, but needless to say, the doctors have worked to dig through the archives and find the paperwork to see if there was anything similar. It was not, but ironically Dr. Cleveland was an assistant surgeon in my surgery back in 1980 and was also an assistant surgeon in Darby Kate's. The doctors here couldn't believe that he was in on a mother's and daughter's surgery 33 years apart.

8:00 a.m. We just spoke to Dr. Alten and he said that his plan is to get completely off ECMO around noon today. She had a good night last night and they were very aggressive about getting the fluids off of her. Dr. Alten told us to drum up as many prayers as we can because she will definitely need them. There is a very small window to get her off of ECMO and it will be hit today. Also pray for the care team, they have worked none stop to get her here. Dr. Alten may have six hours of rest since Sunday night. He has still not left her side. I asked him late last night when he was going to get some rest and he said when she is better. This place is incredible. The risk today are higher than they have been so far. We need to ask God to make her little heart and lungs to take over the fight. 

12:45 p.m. Nothing yet, they will be clamping off the ECMO in about 20 minutes. Prayers, prayers, prayers!


1:15 p.m.  Still running a few more test and thinning her blood. I am anxious with everyone! Dr. Jackson says the general consensus is she will do fine.

2:00 p.m. Her little body is not able to handle all the blood without the support of ECMO. Doctors are meeting now to determine what happens from here.


2:15 p.m. We just spoke to Dr. Alten and he said that with all her vitals dropping together when ECMO was cut off he was unable to tell if it was a heart or lung issue. He said at this point she has a 1 in 3 chance of survival but he would not give up. Testing continues and I will let you know when we hear something else. Please continue to pray, little Darby Kate has not thrown in the towel and everyone needs to be as strong as she is. The fact she is still with us shows us that God is not done with her.

7:15 p.m.  Dr. Alten has used his bully charm to get her taken to the cath lab tonight. He cut the oxygen off on the ECMO machine and her oxygen saturation dropped to 30. This tells him that it is arteries coming from the lungs. If they find something in the cath lab they will either perform her third major open heart surgery tonight or first thing in the morning. Just traveling to the cath lab is very dangerous. 

10:00 p.m.  No 3rd surgery!! She has pulmonary hypertension, so they need to keep her on ECMO longer, give her some meds to help, and let God heal her!! In meantime, pray for no ECMO complications! So thankful to God that no more surgery is required.