Feb 6: Karshimas left Jos at 8:15 AM for Kano. They should arrive in Chicago Feb 7.
Feb 9: The Karshimas arrived in Chicago safe and sound and have seen snow for the first time. The Verschoors write,"Doose of course made friends with all of theflight attendants - he got a full tour of all of the plane, including the cockpit, but we don't think he actually did fly the plane!"Doose is scheduled for the studies of his heart on Tue, Feb 11.
Feb 11: Along with his parents, Doose still suffers from jet lag, missing the Bull's TV game won by Michael Jordan 3-pointer at the buzzer. He had a long day at the hospital today, nearly 10 hours. It was "hurry up and then wait." His echocardiogram went smoothly with the following results:
A-V Septal defect 2 cm. A-V valvular incompetence - mitral more than tricuspid with regurgitation. Summary: Endocardial cushion defect. Remarkable dilatation of the left atrium and ventricle. Normal cardiac output and cardiac index.
On Thursday at 6am Doose will get a cardiac catheterization. Thus, the echo shows a more complex defect than what was thought of at Jos, which indicates the need for catherization.
Wed Feb 12 (Lincoln's birthday): Overnight snowfall of 3 inches will give Doose the chance to help shovel some of the stuff instead of just admiring God's white wonderland through the window.
Feb 12 (later): Jonathan, Lydia and Doose moved into a one-bedroom apartment they are sharing with Florence and Dorcas Lawal, the heart patient from Ogbomasho. This is very close to the hospital, so they will no longer have to commute for as much as an hour and a half each way.
Feb 13: Doose had to be at the hospital for his catherization at 6am and stayed until after 7pm. Jonathan reports "The results were not a surprise and believes they did not find abnormal pressure or abnormal blood vessels to the heart." "They expect to go ahead with some surgery." All of the specialists will confer by Monday afternoon Feb 17 at which time Jonathan and Lydia will be presented with the available options together with long-term prognosis. Then it may be possible to schedule surgery.
Feb 14: (Valentine's Day) Verschoors are taking a roasted turkey to the apartment today. This was contributed by a member of their church who takes calls on the holiday "turkey hot line."
Feb 15: (Mike and Barb) We've learned that Doose's heart problem is not as simple as we thought. Rather than a ventriculoseptal defect (VSD, a hole between the two main pumping chambers) he has an endocardial cushion defect (a complex problem involving holes or incomplete closures between several chambers) and a malfunctioning valve (mitral). This makes his case much more complicated and the repair more risky. The heart team is due to meet on Monday (Feb 17) to discuss Doose's case and decide what kind of treatment is possible. We understand that at least some surgical procedure will probably be performed. A full repair may require more than one operation.
February 17: Doose's parents had a long consultation with the cardiologist this afternoon. The essence of the report (pardon the medical terms):
 | Common Atrial Canal defect Primum type (this is similar to but worse than the typical Down Syndrome defect) |
| Ventricular septal defect of inlet type |
| Common AV valve defect with severe mitral valve leakage |
| Pulmonary pressure 2-3 times normal, 4-6 mm Hg with some probable lung damage |
The parents will meet the thoracic surgeon on Wednesday for more discussion with the surgery scheduled for Thursday February 20. This delicate surgery has very high risk, with the first week the most critical.
Hope we have good news for the next report.
Feb 20: The heart team and Doose's parents have decided to go ahead today Thursday, with the attempted surgical correction of Doose's heart lesion. The procedure is risky and the post-op course often rocky. Thanks for supporting and praying for the Karshimas in this difficult time, while they're so far from home and family.
Feb 20: (from Curt and Marie V.) Although Oluabokumi's surgery was postponed, God's miracles continued for Doose who went to the hospital at 6 am, was in the OR by 8:30, on the oxygenating heart/lung bypass machine for over 3 hours and was stable and out of the OR by 4:30 pm.
The surgeon was upbeat about the entire procedure: Doose did not have a true ASD after all, but because of the hole's position it was necessary to create an ASD to patch the VSD with medical teflon. Then both valves were successfully repaired by suturing, the heart restarted and the chest closed. The anesthesiologist remarked that the BP in the lungs dropped much faster than expected (good).
Praise and thanksgiving to God from whom all blessings really do flow.
Feb 21 11 am CST: Doose is still in SIT where there were 6-8 doctors and nurses in his room last night. The tube is out of his throat, and he should go to the ICU this pm. He may not have to stay in there the full additional 48 hours. The next major hurdle is taking him off the respirator.
Saturday Feb 22: Doose was moved to the ICU from SIT. He had an overflow of visitors, just like the crowds in Nigeria. Oluabokumni, the other child, has not been as fortunate. Her surgery was postponed and she was admitted to the hospital with diarrhea and high temp, possibly from the remnants of a bout with malaria.
Sunday Feb 23: Doose continues to progress. Most of the tubes and IVs are now gone with the only drugs still being administered aldactone, digoxin, and lasix. He is being weaned from Milrinone. His attitude today was much improved. His parents still stayed with him all night, but showed fewer signs of stress today. Perhaps tomorrow he may be able to be moved to a hospital room or at least a less actively monitored room in the ICU. Many have contributed food and grocery money, so the Karshimas are well provided for.
Feb 25: Doose is out of the ICU!! The docs all think Doose is recovering just fine, so he is now in a regular hospital room. Opa watched him walk all the way under his own power, still holding one arm tenderly close to his chest, of course. It still must hurt a lot - some times progress is slow. He may be out of the hospital before the weekend! Jonathan remarked that at one time Doose had seven infusion pumps, whereas Evangel has only one for the whole hospital.
February 27: Doose was discharged from the hospital today. No more tubes, no more monitoring, hooray! Next destination is Jos!
March 1: Doose and his parents took their first sightseeing trip around Chicago. So many of those big buildings! Lake Michigan Sea is so big you can't see the other side! We also saw the place where Drs. Carolyn and Greg Kirschner lived right near the hospital, also Evanston where they met at Northwestern University. Jonathan also had his picture taken at the world headquarters of Rotary there. Doose is even smiling and talking now.
