This is the information I have on Chase to this point from his mother, Sandi.
8-1-2000

Chase was born on Saturday, May 27, 2000 at 11:14 a.m. He weighed 5 lbs 14 oz and was 18 in long. When he was born, he didn't cry. They had to suction him with a tube they put down his nose into his lungs. Then they had to put him on oxygen to help him breath. He was a little jaundiced. The attending Pediatric Specialist, Dr. Wickencamp, found that he had a heart murmur. She thought the murmur was a small Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). This is a common heart defect that is referred to as a "hole in the heart". She said it was nothing to be concerned about and that with time it would close. Dr. Hogenson, our family doctor, listened to Chase's heart in the hospital and he agreed with Dr. Wickencamp that it was just a small VSD. I reminded him that my 4 year old, Cody, was born with a heart murmur as well and that it was Pulmonary Stenosis (PS), a thickening of the pulmonary valve. I told them it was hereditary and it come from their grandmother on their father's side. Dr. Hogenson said he was certain Chase did not have this heart murmur. I was not comfortable with that diagnosis so I spoke to Chase's home nurse, Patty. She wasn't happy with how Chase was breathing and his skin color and she was also worried about the "eye play" we had been noticing and asked that I take him to see Dr. Hogenson. Since he was on vacation, we saw the attending physician, Dr. Sylvia. I told Dr. Sylvia about the "eye play" and how we have a history of epilepsy on both sides of the family, on my side, my oldest brother had infintile epilepsy, and my husband Frank has the adult onset epilipsy. Both had grand-mal seizures. She and I were concerned that Chase may have epilepsy.

Dr. Sylvia sent us to see Dr. Wickencamp for a second opinion. Dr. Wickencamp was a little concerned as well and she sent us to Mercy Hospital (where he was born) to have an EEG (brain scan). The EEG came up negative for epilepsy so we knew there had to be another explanation. When Dr. Hogenson was back from his vacation, I took Chase to see him for his 2 week check-up on June 14. I told Dr. Hogenson everything that had taken place while he was gone and how Chase's home nurse, Patty, was still concerned about his murmur and that it had sounded louder to her. Dr. Hogenson said that this was actually a good sign, that with a VSD, as it gets smaller, the blood flow has more pressure going through the hole. I wasn't convinced this was all that was taking place. He agreed to send us to a Cardiologist, Dr. Zittergruen. I told him about our family history and about me being a gestational diabetic and how I had to take insulin during the pregnancy. I also told him how Chase had difficulty invitro (in the womb) and how I had to have the fetal stress test several times. He ran an EKG (electrocardiogram) on Chase and discovered there was some stress on his heart. He decided to run an ultrasound and take a look at Chase's heart. What we discovered was a total surprise to us all. I was expecting to see Pulmonary Stenosis (PS) and Dr. Zittergruen was expecting to see a larger VSD. What we found was that Chase had not one heart murmur but two. What a shock! We found that Chase had a form of VSD called Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) and that he also had the Pulmonary Stenosis (PS). The DORV comes in many different varieties. Chase has what is known as the Taussig-Bing variety. In DORV, the two Great Arteries (Aorta and Pulmonary Artery) both originate from the Right Ventricle (RV) and blood from the left ventricle passes across a VSD into the RV to reach the great arteries. The lung circulation is often exposed to very high pressure and increased blood flow. Upon seeing this on the sonogram, Dr. Zittergruen said that Chase was not going to be as lucky as his older brother Cody, and that he would have to have open heart surgery and that it would have to be in about a year. I asked him what caused the DORV and he he told me that it was caused from my needing insulun during my first trimester and not getting it. The first trimester is when the heart forms. We went back to see Dr. Zittergruen two weeks later for a follow up and another EKG and Sonogram. We were very relieved to find that Chase's "condition" was stable, meaning his heart hadn't gotten worse or better. This led Dr. Zittergruen to believe that Chase wouldn't have to have the surgery until he was about three or four. This was a huge relief. We were still concerned about the fluid in his lungs caused by his heart murmur so we put him on a diuretic to get rid of it. The diurectic is known to remove potassium from the body as well so we had to put him on potassium to replenish his body. I also told him about Chase beginning to projectile vomit. This is a concern of ours because it can prevent him from getting the nurishment he needs and keep him from gaining weight. It could also mean that he may have stenosis (thickening) of the lower stomach valve that leads to the intestines. If that is the case, he would have to have surgery on his stomach as well. Dr. Zittergruen said that children with heart defects such as the DORV can have this stomach problem as well. At this point, out main concerns are that he grows well, gains weight and doesn't vomit. Chase is also to gain no less than four onces in a seven day period. If he gains less than four ounces two weeks in a row he will have to go on a new medicine that will help him gain weight. Right now, Chase tires out easily. He eats a little here and a little there. He doesn't try to roll over anymore (he rolled completely over at only six weeks old!). He has to sleep propped up so he can breath better. He has a cardiac cough caused from the fluid in his lungs which is caused by his "condition". He currently wieghs 8 lbs 8.6 oz. His last measurement was 20 in long. He is doing pretty good, but he is not out of the woods yet. His current medication does not seem to be getting rid of the fluids in his lungs and he continues to have the cardiac cough, difficulty breathing and difficulty eating. Dr. Zittergruen said that if these things continued his medication dosage will have to be increased and if that didn't help a new medication would have to be introduced.

Double Outlet Right Ventricle

Pulmonary Stenosis

Chase's Valentine page from the Divas

**Here is a correction from Chase's Mother on his condition.
I just noticed that I have been thinking that the hole in Chase's heart is part of the DORV. From what I have learned lately, it is called a VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect) that is actually considered a third heart defect. The DORV basically means that both his aortic artery and pulmonary artery are both located in one ventricle of the heart when there should be one artery per ventricle.

Sweety this little gift is from Your Grandma Cheri and Aunt Barbie. We love you ~S~

As Chase's mom sends me more information I will keep his page updated.. And I would like to thank all of you in advance for your prayers for this beautiful little darling boy.THANKS ~VBS~