I just got off the phone with Claudia and they are ecstatic. Oliver aced his exam! Here’s what she told me, pretty much verbatim. There’s a lot I don’t understand but maybe you will.

Oliver’s left ventricular function has improved, to the point where it is now within normal range! As I understand it, the pumping on this side was weakened by his aortic stenosis. Remember when we all cheered because the left side began pumping on its own? That was one of Oliver’s first big miracles. Now it has really stepped up to the plate.

The function of his right (aortic) side is the same. This means the gradient, backflow, stuff they measure with the echocardiograms. A few appointments ago the doctors were concerned about a membrane that was growing somewhere that could potentially block the flow; they’re not concerned about it now because if it was causing problems that would have shown up as decreased function. Dr. Rosenthal told them that Oliver no longer has critical aortic stenosis, he has mild aortic stenosis. Wow it feels great to write that!!!

The doctors are happy with his overall growth. He still has EFE (endocardial fibroelastosis), and they say they’ve never seen a case where it has gone away on its own. But, they say he may adapt to it. He is not completely out of the woods yet, but Oliver is “showing strong signs” of moving toward that goal. There is no surgery in his immediate future!

Next appointment is not until May. Great job, Olie! Everyone go out and celebrate! Thank you Oliver for putting life into perspective for us once again.

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