If you are new to this website, you may want to go to “What’s Wrong with Bella” at the top of this page for a summary and context.
Well, the day was long but the news was encouraging. We all 4 (well all 5) attempted to go to Children’s Hospital and the Medical University. Had we known how much Bella was not going to cooperate, we would have left 3 of the 5 at home. We were at the cardiologist’s office for 4 hours. Bella was doing her gymnastic exercises and did not want to sit still for the fetal echo. The doctor finally got enough pictures of her to be able to talk with us. Her VSD (hole in her heart) has not changed. She said it would only stay the same or improve, it would not get worse. It us unlikely (medically speaking) that the hole will close on its own because it is so large and it’s not muscular. So, unless the Lord decides to surprise us all, Bella will need heart surgery at some point. The good news is that Bella will probably not need heart surgery at birth. The doctors can’t be sure, because they have never seen a baby with a CCAM (the large lung lesion, mass) and a VSD at the same time. She is already going down in the medical books. But in this cardiologist’s opinion, Bella will not need immediate heart surgery. She also told us that if you are going to have a heart problem, this is the one that is operated on most routinely and has fewer risks than most other heart surgeries.
We then rushed over to the medical university for the appointment with the maternal fetal medicine doctor. There were no signs of hydrops (the fluid throughout the body that would cause heart failure and warrant fetal surgery or early delivery). This was very good news, but my amniotic fluid is VERY high. This is probably because Bella is most likely not swallowing the amniotic fluid like a normal baby would. This causes a backup of fluid in the uterus. This is potentially dangerous because it can trigger early labor. Since Bella is not a normal 28-30 week gestation baby, it would be devastating for her to be born now because she does not have enough normal lung tissue because of the CCAM to be able to breathe. So we need you to pray for the amniotic fluid to be reduced. The doctor said this is most likely why I’m having so many contractions. She told me to continue resting as much as possible. I will go to my OB once a week for a cervical check. The only way to tell if the contractions are Braxton-Hicks or labor pains is to keep a check on any changes in the cervix.
So for now, I am still on modified bed rest and we are praying that the hole will close miraculously and the CCAM will shrink and Bella will continue to grow by leaps and bounds. Thank you for your continued prayers. I have more prayer cards for Bella. If you would like for me to mail you some, please send me your mailing address at legacyportraiture (at) sbcglobal (dot) net and let me know how many you could use.
4 comments
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October 25, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Cindy
My prayers continue to be with you all. Loved the post about the State Fair.
Love to all.
October 29, 2007 at 12:07 am
Julie Hickman
C & P -
We are on vacation – just now catching up with the blog, but so glad to hear that we are still getting good reports on Bella – not out of the woods yet, but still seeing the Lord answering prayers day by day.
As we have had a opportunity to see so much of God’s miraculous creation on our trip to the ocean, I am reminded that the God who created all of what I see around me is the same God, our Father, who holds Bella in the palm of His hand. The Same One who carved out a place for the oceans and held the waters in His hand, holds you and your little Bella. The circumstances your family faces are not too big for Him. He is our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer…..He will carry you each step of the way. I feel certain that you already know, believe, and hold dear all these truths in your hearts and minds, but if you’re anything like me, a reminder of them on occassion doesn’t hurt, eh?
We are thinking of you all and praying all the while. C – may the peace of Jesus rest upon you as you rest and keep this baby growing.
Awaiting God’s awesome provision for you,
Julie
October 30, 2007 at 9:31 pm
Bob and Nancy K.
We continue to pray for you and have sent the URL to others.
October 30, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Nancy Peterman
Our son blogged about you, so we are praying, too. I just want to encourage you that 28 years ago (that’s a long time ago medically speaking…so many advances!) our nephew was born with a hole in his heart. He is now 28 years old, married, has a new baby and most importantly loves the Lord! Of course we will pray for the hole to close (wouldn’t that be awesome!), but should she need this surgery, God can sure work in that, too!