I'll admit that this morning I started imagining all the worst possible senarios and had a few moments in which I began to unravel. I was reminded to take those fears to Jesus, and got my peace restored, and wait for answers.
We saw the cardiologist today. They did an EKG and an Echo Cardiogram. During the Echo Todd and I could not really understand what we were looking at until we had been looking at it long enough that it finally dawned on us that we were seeing blood flow through the middle of the heart where there were no valves. Hmmm.
The Cardiologist explained it to us in great detail in very easy to understand terms. Letha has a hole in her heart called an Atrial Septal Defect - Secumdum type, LARGE. It is causing secondary issues: Dilated (enlarged) Right Atrium, Right Ventrical and Pulmonary Arteries. The hole is about the size of a penny (18 mm).
The GOOD news, and there's a lot. Her asthma symptoms are all mostly caused by the ASD. Her growth (or lack thereof) is probably due to the ASD. And Fixing it will give her more energy, help her breathe easier, especially during exercise, it will allow her body to spend some energy on growing. There won't be any permanent damage, her heart will be able to recover it's normal shape and the arteries that have been enlarged will shrink some, but she will grow into any other enlargement.
The procedure itself is an outpatient procedure (NO SURGERY! Praise the Lord!). They will go in through a catheter in her groin and place a patch (you can view the kind of patch used HERE. ) The patch is permanent and her heart will grow around it.
We are SO excited! I was quite literally skipping to the car! Honestly, I have never thought to pray about a resolution to her Asthma, and here we are with one! I have never been so excited about one of my children being ill, but this pneumonia has given us a wonderful gift. Even Letha, as we left the cardiologist, said, "I wasn't getting the whole "Thankful for pneumonia" thing until now!" Imagine, the thought of breathing easy and having energy and breath to run and play with her friends.
Thank you all my friends for your prayers! We will be keeping you posted on Letha's progress and her procedure on April 1.
God is so GOOD! Isn't it amazing the technology that is now available. I will continue to pray. God obviously has big plans for Letha! :)
ReplyDeleteIrene
Karina - that is great news! When will the operation be? I will keep you all in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteKarina, I am so glad to hear that she will not need surgery but that you found out what the issue is/has been all along.
ReplyDeleteTell Letha that I will pray for her on April 1 and of course I be thinking of her Mama.
Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry to hear this news! Welcome the the newest club...being a Heart Mom. It's a brave group. =) Please keep us posted. I will be praying for Letha!
ReplyDeleteHi Karina!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't been keeping up on you as well as I should have so when I was cruising the twin board tonight and saw your references to Letha's illness I was so surprised!
You've been going through a lot!
I am so happy for Letha. What a tremendous blessing this is!
My hubby had a heart defect that went undetected until he was in his mid-twenties. He didn't have it repaired until his mid-thirties though because in his case it was a lot more invasive and they were hoping the technology would improve (which it did.)
The thing is--he is a new man. He feels like he has a new lease on life which he literally does.
Before his surgery, he could not grow muscles, just could not, no matter how hard he tried. He tired easily.
After the surgery, he has beautiful biceps! He likes flexing them for me ;) Now his body can produce the extra energy needed for wonderful healthy muscles and tissues and tendons and all that equals a much healthier happier man.
If all that can happen for a grown man--think of the wonders it will do for an otherwise healthy young woman. She won't be able to believe the difference in her body!
Big hugs for you Karina--AND for Letha. We'll be routin' for her!
Aaaah! With God all things are possible. Little will Letha understand for a long time yet how her life story gives the rest of us soooo much hope AND so much faith in our Great God!!!!!!! Love ya, talk to you guys soon (can friends come to the hospital that day)?
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