Help Chloe Get the Blood She Needs

Yesterday we brought Chloe back to the Philippine Heart Center for another checkup. She continues to take her pre-surgery medications faithfully and has gained an additional half kilo (1.1 pounds). Dr. Balderas examined her heart and performed a general assessment as we approach her scheduled surgery on February 5. Everything looks good, and we are moving forward with preparations.

Dr. Balderas also issued Chloe's check-in order, which requires us to be admitted 48 hours before surgery - on February 3, after lunch.

Today we returned to PHC to collect Chloe's blood test results, which confirmed her blood type as O+. This means she can receive blood from donors with O+ or O- types. As part of the pre-surgery requirements, we need to provide 10 units of blood to ensure sufficient supply during the operation.

Happy New Year to all...

We now have a date: February 5. This gives us about 30 days to prepare. Chloe is faithfully following her pre-surgery regimen - taking her twice daily medications and eating well. We're encouraged to report that she continues to gain weight, putting her on track for surgery.

Yesterday, Chloe's mother Coni and I visited the Philippine Heart Center to continue preparing for her surgery. We were able to submit the required documents, make the initial payment, and meet with the admitting coordinator.

To our global support team, THANK YOU for your contribution, prayers and support!

Today Chloe had another consultation with her attending physician, Dra. Juliet Balderas, a leading pediatric cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center. Dra. Balderas confirmed that Chloe's medications are working well, noting that she has gained a full kilogram in the past month and that her appetite has returned.

We have now selected the surgeon who will lead the team for Chloe's procedure: Dr. Gerardo S. Manzo, Assistant Director for Medical Services at the Philippine Heart Center.

Chloe has been taking medications prescribed by her pediatric cardiologist in preparation for her surgery. This is the first time she has willingly taken oral medications, a good sign that she is aware of their importance.

Chloe is a very bright little lady and has already asked dozens of thoughtful questions about her upcoming surgery. One of my favorites is "..after surgery, will I be an in patient?"

Since our initial post, Chloe has undergone a second opinion. Two weeks ago, we brought her to the Philippine Heart Center for another 2D echo. The results confirmed that she has a sinus venosus superior atrial septal defect (16-20 mm), which has already caused enlargement of her right atrium and right ventricle.

In simple terms: Chloe has a hole in the upper part of the wall between the two chambers of her heart. Because of this, blood flows the wrong way, causing her heart to work harder than it should.

Both cardiologists we consulted agreed on her diagnosis and recommended open-heart surgery in the near future. While her condition is serious, we are reassured that it can be corrected surgically with a high degree of success.