cy⋅a⋅no⋅sis   /ˌsaɪəˈnoʊsɪs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [sahy-uh-noh-sis] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun Pathology. blueness or lividness of the skin, as from imperfectly oxygenated blood.
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Origin:
1825–35; < NL < Gk kyánōsis dark-blue color. See cyan- 1 , -osis
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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We had Sean's 3 month heart check up yesterday. His oxygen levels are in the low 70's when he's calm, and it drops into the mid 60's when he cries. After we were there a but, the doctor tested him again and got an 81. Those without heart problems usually run at 95 or so. The doctor reassured us it is unlikely that any brain damage would occur. In fact, he has adult patients who have also been cyanotic, and are now studying to be engineers and doctors. Though he did not go into great detail, the doctor said there is amazing redundancy in the body, and therefore, if 70 percent of his blood is oxygenated well, the body draws on what it needs and returns with 40-50 percent oxygenated blood (not quite the doctors phrasing, but the best I can describe). So, Sean's body is self-adjusting well.

Unless something changes for the worst, we are looking at surgery for Sean when he is about 5 years old. We still don't know whether they would reconstruct one ventricle, or two, with two being the best option, but may not always be possible. We'll know more when he's closer to five. In the meantime, we watch him grow like a normal two year old and thank God we have the proviledge of being able to raise him and help him through the years of care he will need.