Blackouts

Levi has blacked out twice in the past month.  Doctors say the causes could be his erratic heart rate or rejection.  They did a heart cath and a heart biopsy this evening.  These tests will tell if rejection is occurring.  They have looked at his heart with an ECHO and it looks good so they don't believe rejection is the cause.  

The other option could be the erratic heartbeat.  The electrophysiologist explained that his heart rate gets very high then pauses before dropping.  It is possible that the pause may be long enough that he passes out.  The plan is to perform another ablation next week.  Since the extra heartbeats sometimes disappear when they anesthetize  Levi, they will only slightly sedate him and hope to find the problem and ablate it.  

Tattoos After Transplant

Levi started this tattoo of a tree growing out of a human heart a few years ago.  The first step was the outline.  Secondly, he had it shaded.  The third step was to have it colored, but due to his heart transplant he won't be able to complete that step.  

A tattoo is made by piercing the skin with a needle that inserts tiny ink droplets into the puncture. According to the Mayo Clinic, many infections and complications can result:

Allergic reactions to tattoo dyes.  This can occur even years after getting the tattoo.

Skin problems such as granulomas (bumps that form around tattoo ink) and keloids (raised areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue.)

Bloodborne diseases like tetanus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, impetigo, cellulitis, herpes simplex, staph, fungal infections, transmission of syphilis, leprosy and viral warts.  

There has been a recent discovery of a bacteria called mycobacterium chelonae that can occur from the water used to dilute tattoo ink.  Though this is non life threatening, it can cause a cluster of very itchy, pus-filled blisters on the tattooed area.  It may take months of harsh antibiotic treatment to resolve.  Some extreme cases require removal of the entire affected area leaving a scar.

Images of skin problems from tattoos can be seen here.

People susceptible to infection, such as transplant patients on immunosuppressant medications, should always consult a physician before getting a tattoo done.  In Levi's case, the doctors have strongly advised against it so his tattoo will forever be uncolored.  He is still proud of it though!

Ablation

After Levi's heart transplant he suffered from arrhythmia.  It was explained to us that the impulses moving through the heart would take a wrong turn, travel in circles and cause the arrhythmia.  This is dangerous because arrhythmia can cause clots.  

Ablation is a treatment to fix this.  The doctors insert a catheter in a pulmonary vein and use it to try to find the errant circuit.  When found, energy is delivered through the catheter to disconnect the path, directing the impulses in the correct route.  

Levi has had this procedure done three times.  The first two times it was quickly apparent that it was unsuccessful.  The most recent time it was successful at first but the palpitations began again after a couple of weeks.  The next option may be a pacemaker.

Below is a picture of the ablation procedure found on Port Huron Hospital's web site.

Doctors

Here are two of the doctors that made Levi's heart transplant a success!  Not just amazing doctors but wonderful caring men!

Hospital

Levi received his heart transplant at St. Paul University Hospital in Dallas, TX.  What a fantastic place! This hospital is known for its comprehensive cardiac care and features a specialized 22-bed heart-failure unit.  The doctors are amazingly competent and approachable.  They took so much time to explain every detail of every procedure, medication, side effect, restriction, etc. that we felt very comfortable with every minute of care he received there.  We highly recommend St. Paul University Hospital for anyone experiencing heart problems.  

Introduction

Hello!  Our son, Levi had a heart transplant.  This picture was taken just about an hour after the surgery.  Most patients are not even fully aware of their surroundings for 48 hours afterwards!  We would like to share our experiences with others that may be facing this situation in hopes of encouraging them.   

Levi's friends referred to him as Iron Man because his transplant was the quickest on record at University of Texas Southwest hospital and because of his amazingly quick recovery.  One even brought him an Iron Man mask!