It's been a couple months since we last updated you on Gage's progress. Mr. Gage continues to do well and hasn't had any E.R. visits since our last post. He did have an S.V.T. episode about a week ago but mommy recognized it right away and we reacted quickly trying to force him to bear down using a freezer bag full of ice cubes on his face. With the right placement and hold, she was able to convert him out of S.V.T. in less than a minute.
Gage was extremely unhappy with this method but he'd have been even more upset if we'd taken him to the E.R. for a shot adenosine. We didn't need the stethoscope to feel his heart racing away, but we did use the finger pulse oximeter and his heart rate was definitely over 250 beats per minute.
On the plus side, just last week Gage demonstrated he could suck through a straw and after a couple days of practice, now does so with ease. Tonight, out of nowhere, he began to practice his jumping motion bobbing up and down as if he were dancing to a catchy beat. He hasn't wavered in his happy uplifting outlook on life one little bit. He's constantly trying to make us laugh and begs to get out of the house for some activity at least twice a day.
In less than one month Gage will be two years old. He's been living with his mechanical heart valve for just over a year now and we couldn't be happier with his quality of life. He's eating and drinking well enough now that there is a high chance he'll get his G-Tube removed in the next six months. It's difficult to imagine his tummy without it almost. The challenge then will be getting him to take his med's orally. Still, it's another milestone we're excited to reach.
We don't really have a party planned but it will no doubt be celebrated. Our little heart warrior will be two.