Back-to-Back Clear Angiograms

*Spoiler Alert* Everything is fine.

After a two hour drive, Josh, Theo, and I arrived at our favorite Marriott in Peoria. Right when we walked in the front door Theo started to look suspicious. He knows this place too well. Poor guy.

[Watching football and playing with puppy]

The next morning, November 22nd, we got up very early and headed to the OSF St Francis Children's Hospital of Illinois. 

[It was chilly and Theo wouldn't wear a beanie, but he was fine in the Lakers Snuggie! Thanks Em for your generous gift all those years ago!]

These two are always playing!

After we got checked in we were taken back to the Interventional Radiology pre-op center. 

Various nurses helped get Theo prepped before we saw IR Dr Fraser, IR APN Mark, and the anesthesiologist.

After they took Theo back to the OR, Josh and I walked to the cafeteria to get some breakfast and then we hung out in the waiting room.

After an hour I got a call that Dr. Fraser wanted to see us. We met him in the conference room where he informed us that Theo's angiogram was "clear" and he likely won't be needing another one in a long time (or ever). He said that he is going to send the results to Vascular Neurosurgery and see what they say. But he thinks they will agree with his conclusion. He also said that the access point on Theo's right leg is blocked. It's been used a lot, but the left side is still accessible. Part of me is very happy that everything is "clear" and that Theo is still considered "cured," but I am also sad because the IR team is my FAVORITE team. They listen to us and they care so much about Theo. I actually looked forward to Theo's appointments with them because we learned so much and really felt like they wanted what was best for us.

After we parted ways from Dr. Fraser I headed downstairs to see Theo in recovery. He was tired, but was calm and watching Blues Clues when I arrived. After about an hour we headed up to IR recovery to continue his six hour recovery.

[He did not like that on his finger!]

We had a few hours to kill, so I went on a couple walks around the hospital and got us some lunch. While I was heading back to Theo's room I spotted this "library" in the waiting room. Two Star Wars books. Nice.

Theo did really well during his long recovery. Since the incisions are in his upper leg/groin area he has to lay flat and keep his legs straight (no kicking) during the entire six hours. It's usually pretty hard, but this time Theo cooperated and we got through recovery without any issues.

In the last hour of recovery, APN Mark came by to check in on us. He was very excited about Theo's progress and said that we can stop by and see them any time. I got a little teary-eyed as Mark was saying goodbye. But I'm sure we will see him (and the rest of the team) again! 

Dr. Frasier mentioned having Theo do another brain scan in the future because he want's him to participate in a study for medical research. We will definitely be participating in any studies that the IR team or Vascular Neurosurgery want us to participate in. If it helps kids and families in the future then I'm all about it. 

A few days later I got a call from the IR APN Jessica. She told me that they presented Theo's results to Vascular Neurosurgery and they are very happy with how Theo is doing and they agree with Dr. Fraser's conclusions. We will continue to follow up with Neurosurgery yearly since Theo still has the VP shunt. Jessica said that next time we have an appointment with Neurosurgery we can stop by and see them in IR too. She was sad she wasn't able to see us during Theo's angiogram, but like I said before, we will see them again.