No one can convince me that prayer doesn't get God's attention! The heart catheterization was cancelled today and the doctors have decided to try a different drug therapy. The plan is to use diuretics (the one she's been on all along, as well as a much more powerful one) to "dry her up" as they say, and give her Sildenafil (fondly known as Viagra) to dilate the blood vessels. The idea is that if the blood/lymphatic vessels in the lungs have higher pressure than they should, they will relax and be able to heal wherever they are leaking. Supposedly the healing takes place rather quickly and the drainage will stop. Then, she will either be able to just stop the meds and the drainage will not recur, or she will continue on some low level of diuretic and Sildenafil for a time after going home. In either case, we're hoping to be looking at decreased fluid drainage in the next few days. Once that drain tube can be taken out, she can go home.
So please keep Katie Mei in prayer as we try this new approach. Risks of the Sildenafil are low blood pressure, changes in heart rate, and a slight possiblity of vision or hearing problems. So far, after her first dose tonight, she's done fine. Hope we get good results.
Love,
Petrie
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