Ethan's Surgery

Ethan has been seeing a Urologist since he was inutero! With our 5th month ultrasound an abnormality was detected in Ethan's left kidney. We spent a few harrowing weeks not knowing if he would be ok, if his kidneys would function, if he's have to be born early or even if he would have to be born far away in a hospital with a NICU. We werent even positive that he could live with his condition. It was certainly a scary and agonizing time in our lives. Eventually I saw maternal fetal specialists and we learned that he would be ok.. but it took several more visits to determine that he could infact be born when and where ever he wanted to be. We met with with his urologist before he was born and were instructed to call when he was born to get him seen right away!

Ethan's first appointment after his birth was when he was one week old. His official dianosis was a Congenital Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction (UPJ) and hydronephrosis. That means he has a blockage that obstructs the flow or urine and a dilated (stretched out) kidney. Luckily his kidney has always maintained function, but he's had multiple surgeries to correct the issue - the first at two months old!

His seventh surgery just took place a few days ago on August 18. This was a minor surgical procedure but it did require general anesthesia. He had a stint placed inside his body that runs from his bladder, up his ureter into the left kidney. We will see if this combats the pain he has been having and if it does, we know that another major surgery is in the imminent future.

Getting his surgery pjs on... (come on Mom, put the camera awaaay!



Being brave AND silly before surgery... with Mojo!



Waking up after surgery... he was freezing and totally bundled up.. even his head!


Ethan feels fine and is almost completely back to normal after his surgery. We have a follow up in a month and expect things to be completely normal (for him).