Happy Transplant Day +1 (8/17/07)

As most of you know Beckham received a new heart yesterday and we couldn't be happier with how the whole process transpired.

(Getting ready to go down to the OR)

Beckham went into surgery yesterday at around noon where they got him ready for the event to come. His heart didn't actually arrive in Iowa City until close to 2:30pm. What they do is try and have Beckham open and his old heart removed as the new heart is coming through the OR doors. That way Beckham has a minimal time without a heart and the new heart spends minimal time outside of a human body. We didn't get a whole lot of updates during the process, but the couple times that they called us it was to tell us how well the whole process was going and they gave us estimated time lines of when he would be returning. What was great is that everything went faster than they expected and he was back in his room at 6:30 that night without any unexpected complications.

Before the surgery took place we told them that they could keep his old heart for educational purposes being that this is a University hospital. They are actually going to now put his heart in a museum that they have because it was so unique in its defects. His heart turned out to be much worse than expected. Not only was the mitral valve extremely malformed, but the other valve (the tri-cuspid) was equally inefficient. Neither valve was anatomically correct in its form. Both valves sat flat against the walls of their respective chambers and weren't connected to any chordae tendinae (little chords connected to the valves that help in the blood flow process). Looking back at how poorly his heart had formed it is amazing he did as well as he did up until the transplant took place. In the picture to the left (of a normal heart) you can see the chordae tendinae are shown connected to the tricuspic valve and the mitral valve. He didn't have either of them connected at all as both valves were pressed against the surrounded walls. Later they are going to let me see his old heart and I'll take some pictures.

Since he has been back from surgery he has done very well...he came back looking like he had just returned from war (which is common in surgery), but he cleaned up quite nicely. In fact he looks great and is doing great so far. They have slowly been weaning a variety of drugs and interventions. They will continue to do so everyday as long as he tolerates the tapering. His scar should even be fairly small (eventually) as they didn't use stitches, but glue. They have plenty of padding over it right now so that it will not be aggravated, but it should eventually heal very nicely. Kim saw the scar of a little girl that had a transplant just last October and said that it looks good. It is white and flat without any keloid (large bumps) characteristics.

(A few of the many staff members working on our little guy after the operation)

Talking with physicians (and just watching them the last few days), Beckham's new heart couldn't have come at a better time. He was beginning to show signs that he could start going downhill at anytime. We can't express our gratitude enough for the family that decided to put their beloved child on the donor list. We will likely never know who it was, or even where the heart came from, but their selfless decision at such a difficult time in their lives will always be appreciated and will provide the means necessary for Beckham to live a great life. Hopefully this well help us all to check 'yes' on that donor box next time while renewing our driver's licenses.

We are all exhausted after such a long and emotional day, but we couldn't be happier with how things have gone up until now. They are quick to remind us that many difficulties are yet to come and that Beckham still has a lot to accomplish in just the next few days, but they are also very pleased with the progress that he has made.

The staff here has been incredible. Dr. Davis did the surgery and we are told that his experience with such an operation is surpassed by few. Dr. Edens is Beck's transplant physician and it has been great to work with him. He has worked night and day for our child and we couldn't be more grateful for his efforts. There is also a large team of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, and many many others who deserve a great thanks. The staff here at University of Iowa has been great...it is safe to say we are converted Hawkeyes! (though still Utes first ;-))

Thank you so much for your prayers and efforts over the last few weeks, though we hope that they will continue as there is still much to accomplish. Miracles have happened to our little family over the last few weeks and we have come to learn so much.

Thank you to everybody that deserves a thank you.

Love,
Nate, Kim, Gwen, and the 'new and improved' Beckham

(This picture was taken just this morning. Good looking kid, eh?)

PS - Another few things we should note. The same day that Beckham got his heart a cousin of ours went home after having a transplant in beginning of July. You can read Noah's story as many of his issues our similar to what we are now facing. We are grateful to Noah and these cousins that we didn't even know before the last couple of weeks for helping us have a story and people with whom we could relate.

Oh and big Beckham scored his first goal since moving to the United States on Wednesday night. I was watching the game and as he scored I thought "Okay Becks you have yours now we need ours". It was in that same hour that Dr. Edens received the first call that there was a potential heart for our little boy. Relevant? Probably not, but cool none-the-less.