here’s to no news

Sometimes no news is good news. And from the last few sonograms, we’ve had relatively good news. Bella still kicks with abandon in the womb–suggesting anything but distress in her secure lodging. There’s not been the slightest hint of hydrops. The maternal fetal medicine doctor here at UT Southwestern was even forthright enough to use language like, “it doesn’t look like Bella will need fetal surgery.” And though the growth lag remains, the lag hasn’t lengthened–that is, she doesn’t continue to fall behind. In fact, there’s arisen a bit of a virtual-debate among some of the doctors we’ve seen as to whether this apparent lag is real or perceived. We’ll spare you the details on why there’s a lack of consensus; and since there’s not really anything we can do to ascertain who’s right, we just make sure momma’s getting her rest and the kids go to bed clean and fed–with credit going out to one fantastic nanny and a whole lotta help from so many.

In all, we are encouraged by lack of any new news to report! The hole in Bella’s heart remains, and while open-heart surgery is nothing to sneeze at, it is not a rare procedure. What the mass will do as Bella grows remains a mystery.  Regardless of its behavior, we’ll likely have to have whatever remains of it removed prior to her first birthday.  They’re prone to causing infections or cancer if left alone

Christy goes back to Houston Friday for what we think (and hope) will be her last follow-up appointment for a while there.  We’ll go back for a fetal MRI at 34 weeks to get the best picture of the state of the mass.

We had the distinct privilege to spend several hours last week with Garrett Morrison, his sister, Carson, and his mother, Jan. Garrett’s the one who underwent fetal surgery in Houston last year and whose story we linked you to from the Dateline special. Seamus and Carson hit it off, and Garrett did his best to prove to Savvy that he could pick her up. Savannah, though, had a look of reservation every time her counterpart tried to show his strength. We don’t think Savvy will opt for a second date–“hey, it’s not you, it’s me.”

But for the incision scar on his left torso from where they removed his CCAM, Garrett has no ongoing issues related to his rather eventful entrance into this world. It was a sweet time hearing from such a “famous” family and seeing one potential outcome of a CCAM patient. And for you House fans (FOX), turns out, Jan told us, there’s an episode from last April focusing on a mother whose pregnancy is afflicted with….you guessed it, a CCAM. Now, the writers do their best to protract the process of diagnosing the problem to build tension, and they pull out all the stops on what could happen to the mother if the CCAM goes unaddressed in the baby–something called Mirror Syndrome in which the mother begins to suffer from the same symptoms as the baby. And while Dr House’s pomposity, coupled with brilliance, is the reason you watch the show, the story takes on a subtext that is rather….well, un-Hollywood like. I leave it to you to download the episode from iTunes for $1.99.

Have been back in Genesis lately. Hagar’s bittersweet story starting in chapter 16 plays out fast. But at its bleakest moment, the LORD meets her in her distress and portends outcomes meant to give her hope and courage. And though what awaits her and her child, Ishmael, isn’t ideal, she nonetheless exults in the Lord’s provision with the words, “You are a God who sees me. . .Truly here I have seen him who looks after me” (16:13).

Irrespective of what happens with our little Bella, we still feel like what Hagar felt in that moment: that we’ve been seen and looked after. There are others we’ve learned of recently who’ve faced far more wrenching circumstances in their respective pregnancies, (like here and here). They’re having to wait upon God’s consolation and strength in a far more difficult moment. I am certain they would welcome your prayers for that sense of being seen and looked after.

Thanks for keeping the watchfires burning, and special thanks to you who’ve sent the postcards. I’m no decorator, but I think making your contributions into wallpaper would be the most decorous thing we could do.