Effects of surgery

His tummy is almost flat!

August 3, 2010
Well Aiden is 13 days old today and already has been through five surgeries.  Aiden is now requiring 100% O2 and is requiring a vent pressure of 28.   His lungs are not handling all the pressure that has come from the reduction of the omphalocele so he is relying alot more on the ventilator.  The NICU doctors are concerned about continuing with surgery but the surgeons think all will be better once his abdomen is completely closed.  They think they will be able to perform the final closure on Friday.  Aiden has also started retaining fluid due to the increased pressure  and from organ manipulation during the surgeries.  His legs are so swollen and it looks so painful.  He can't even open his eyes because they are swollen shut.  Craig and I are so scared but are trusting in God to get us through.

Surgery Begins

After the very first surgery



 Aiden's first surgery was on July 23, 2010.  The surgeons decided to do gradual closure of the omphalocele.  The process involved multiple surgeries to slowly push the organs into his abdominal cavity and allow skin to be stretched over the organs.  During the first surgery they attached a mesh type material to both sides of the abdomen.  The mesh was sewn into place and then stretched over the organs.  The mesh put pressure on the organs thus pulling them into his abdomen.  Every other day the surgeons took Aiden back to surgery to cut the mesh and sew it tighter thus applying more pressure on the organs and pushing them in a little further.  The staged surgery process was important because of the size of Aiden's omphalocele.  If all the organs were pushed in during one surgery it would apply to much pressure on his lungs and he would not be able to breathe. 

After one of the reduction surgeries. Slowly the omphalocele is getting smaller as it is pushed in.





Aiden Arrives

Aiden was delivered by C-section  at 38 weeks.  Aiden was born on Wed. July 21, 2010 at 1014am.  He weighed 6lbs. 7 oz. and was 18 1/4 in. long. Immediately after he was delivered he was whisked away to NICU and placed on the ventalator due to complications with breathing.  I didn't even get to see him or hear him cry! Craig got to take a few pictures of him right after birth and then later after he was stable in the NICU Craig got to see him. The pediatric surgeons came and evaluated his omphalocele right after birth.  They also wrapped it tight with moistened gauze that remained  until his first surgery.  I finally got to see my  little boy around 9pm that evening. 

Aiden's Story Begins

First ultrasound picture showing the omphalocele.

We found out on March 1, 2010 at 18 weeks gestation via ultrasound that our baby had an abdominal wall defect.  My OB doctor quickly referred us to Jackson, MS for further testing which included an amniocentesis, fetal MRI, and a fetal echocardiogram. The tests revealed that Aiden had a giant omphalocele that contained the liver, stomach, and some of his intestines.  The rest of the pregnancy involved frequent tests evaluations in Jackson. We are so thankful we were referred to University Medical Center in Jackson. All the doctors and nurses have been wonderful.   

Fetal MRI of the omphalocele