Autopsy Results

Today Lori and I met with Isaac's doctor at Georgetown Hospital in DC to go over the preliminary autopsy results. We authorized an autopsy so that maybe the doctors could learn something about his case and maybe out of curiosity for myself. I hoped that we could learn that everything was done possible to keep Isaac alive. Thankfully my prayer was answered. It appears to me, as well as the doctors, that Isaac really did not have much of a chance in this world. For that I am eternally thankful that Lori and I got to spend two weeks with him. A lot of parents don't even get that. Isaac was in such bad shape when he was born at Bethesda Naval and he probably would not have made the trip if the ECMO center was not so close at the time. Thinking back I am amazed at how God worked everything out so that we could spend time with him. Those two weeks were so full of stress but I would not trade it for anything in the world.
The results of the autopsy showed that he had a total absence of a diaphram on the left side and due to that his intestines, spleen, stomach, and partial liver were up in his chest. His left lung weighed only 11 grams while his right lung weighed 44 grams. Not much to work with on the left side but ultimately the pulminary hypertension, which kept his body from processing the oxygen that he needed, killed him. I know that God is sovereign over all of this but I can't help but be amazed that he was able to live for as long as he did. The doctors dont know why he was doing so well coming off of ECMO and then within a couple of days had died. His blood gases were so good, his oxygen requirements were limited on the jet(high frequency) ventilator, but his hypertension just came back and once you are off of ECMO you can't go back on. I could explain why but I dont exactly know all the terms but lets just say you pretty much have one shot at it. Isaac's doctor has to be one of the most wonderful human beings that Lori and I have ever met. You talk about a "bedside manner". She seemed to always be there. I know she invested (as well as the other doctors and ECMO nurses) a lot of hope, love, and care for Isaac and as she says it's not the ones that are easily cared for that you build an attachment to but it's the tough cases, the ones that don't make it, that affect you the most. Now that may sound simple but it is profound that these caretakers were affected by Isaac's death. Many of the nurses came to Isaac's funeral. We have offered to Georgetown that if in any way we can be a comfort to future families like us that they can contact us. I don't know if that will ever happen but we want to be there to answer questions, provide hope, and pray for others going through this ordeal. Please pray for a little girl that had to go on ECMO that was Isaac's roommate at Georgetown. I don't exactly know her medical status except to say that she is doing well. I hope and pray that she was able to have the corrective surgery and that her parents are being sustained by the Lord during their trial. Isaac's doctor is on the right and one of Isaac's faithful ECMO nurses (our heros) is on the left.