Uncle Mel Suffers a Heart Attack

On Tuesday, November 11, 2014, Uncle Mel Porter suffered a  heart attack which he referred to as a "small one."

Uncle Mel sent this text to Uncle Layne today:

"...I had a heart attack on Tuesday.  Stint put in yesterday.  Going home today.  It's a good thing I came in as a main artery was 98% blocked.  My heart attack was a small one.  If I had waited much longer it could have been major so if you think you might be having one go to the ER right away.  Do not hesitate.  If I wouldn't have I might have been spending Christmas with Dad, Mom and Eileen...
Love you all... Mel

Aunt LuAnn & Uncle Mel Porter

Photo taken July 16, 2014

 

 

To Uncle Mel we send our love, our best wishes and

our prayers for a speedy recovery!!!!

 



Katelyn's surgery update

Katelyn's surgery went very well.  The doctor stated that the next couple of days are critical.  They will be watching her closely to make sure that her heart is functioning properly and that no infection sets in.

Katelyn just before going into surgery.

 

Katelyn just before surgery with her parents Eldon & Rebecca Johnston

 

Katelyn just after her surgery.

 





Update on Katelyn Johnston--Surgery on Tuesday

Rebecca and Eldon's baby girl, Katelyn, will be undergoing open heart surgery on Tuesday, November 11 in the early afternoon.  This is a major procedure to re-route her main arteries through the lungs (to oxygenate her blood) then back to her heart.  They will be making her heart a functioning 3 chamber heart.

Eldon writes:

     "Katelyn's condition is called "Tricuspid Atresia with a VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect).  Her oxygen saturation levels keep dropping, heart rate races to around 200 bpm, and she vomits.  She hasn't been able to handle her feedings for a couple of weeks now.  We have tried different medications to treat the reflux but she didn't improve.  On Thursday, we brought her in to Primary Children's for observation.  Friday she underwent a cath lab procedure to map and measure the internal pressures of the heart.  On Saturday she had a severe episode where her oxygen levels dropped to the low teens (75-85% is normal for her).  It took her almost an hour to recover to normal levels.  It was then determined that her next surgical procedure, "the glen", would be done sooner than later."

We appreciate all the prayers that have been sent her way and would love it if you could please continue to do so.  We will keep you posted as to her condition.

We send our love to all of you..............Jean

Katelyn Jean Johnston

Photo taken October 1, 2014