A Short Update

     I don't have much to report today, but there are a few small updates from our two doctor's visits this week. Tuesday, we saw Dr. BK (the maternal-fetal specialist), and had another ultrasound. It's been four weeks since we had one, so I was missing seeing our little girl. I had almost forgotten that she had any kind of heart or brain abnormality. However, I was quickly reminded of that when they started the ultrasound. The good news is that everything is stable. The left side of the heart is still smaller, and the brain still has a fluid-filled cyst; but, nothing is getting worse. The ultrasound tech measured the ventricles in Breckin's brain and they are normal and not dilated. She said this was a good sign, because it means the cyst is not getting worse. 

     The tech then began doing measurements after she had checked her heart and brain. Breckin is measuring exactly where she should be. She is growing and developing right on track, and for this we are very thankful! However, I have too much amniotic fluid. I first thought, oh well this is good because too little is bad right? Well too much can be bad also. It puts me at a higher risk of pre-term labor causing early contractions or the amniotic sac could rupture which would also cause premature delivery of the baby. These are two things we definitely do not want to happen! So, I have been put on modified activity meaning no heavy housework, no long walks, and no big grocery trips! The nurse practitioner I saw also said this extra fluid could be a sign of gestational diabetes :(

     My visit today was with my regular OB and she did my glucose test. I won't know if I passed until sometime next week. I am really hoping I do not have gestational diabetes. I'd hate to have to give up my beloved sweets for three months! She also measured me today and my belly is measuring at 28 weeks instead of the 25 weeks that I am. She said this is due to all the extra fluid I have. This explains why I've been feeling so uncomfortable lately!

     I am grateful that Breckin is doing well and everything is stable with her. For all those prayer warriors out there, please continue to pray for continued healing and improvement in her little body. Also pray for me that the fluid will decrease to a normal level, and there will be no hint of any preterm labor. This week at Bible Study, I was reminded of this verse from Matthew: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt. 6:34) I have to remember this daily; to take each day at a time, and not worry about what the future holds.

Love,

Brooke

Nothing is Too Hard

     Yesterday was our appointment with our pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Joshi. We first had an ultrasound and the ultrasound tech took all types of measurements and pictures of Breckin's heart. Our baby girl was not cooperating, however, and moving all over the place! The US tech said she wins the award for most uncooperative baby. She had to fight Breckin for every picture and measurement. I know the lady was probably very frustrated, but I am just thankful that she is a little fighter. I'm praying that she will be that much of a fighter outside the womb as well. Dr. Joshi came in soon after, and asked for a few more measurements, and then sent us to a new room to discuss everything.
     The first thing he did was explain exactly what type of condition Breckin has. The technical term would be hypoplastic left heart syndrome, but her heart isn't exactly like a typical hypoplastic left heart. In typical HLHS, the left ventricle is much smaller than the right, and there is usually hardly any blood flow from the left side to the aorta. Also, the mitral and aortic valves are usually stenotic (closed), and aren't working properly. In Breckin's heart, she does have a much smaller ventricle, but her heart is still able to pump blood from the left side into the aorta. Her aortic blood flow is good, and her valves are open and working; they are just small. Dr. Joshi said everything on the left side is about 50% smaller than it should be which means it's doing about 50% of the work.
     She will still need surgical treatment, but depending on how well she tolerates her decreased blood flow after birth, will depend on the urgency of the treatments. Once she is born, she will be taken to LeBonheur Hospital here in Memphis and evaluated for how well her heart is working. If she's tolerating the decreased flow on her left side, she may just need to be observed for awhile. However, she will eventually start a three-step surgery. The first surgery, the Norwood procedure, usually occurs within the first few days of life, the second, the Glenn procedure, at four months old, and the third, the Fontan procedure, at four years old. Medicine has come a long way since these surgeries were first performed. The first Norwood was done in the 1980s, with a small success rate. Now, the success rate is much higher, and LeBonheur has one of the highest success rates in the country!
     I asked a bunch of questions, and my last few pertained to the actual technicalities of the delivery, and how her Dandy-Walker would complicate things. I will deliver by C-section at Methodist Germantown, and then a few hours later, Breckin will be transported to Lebonheur Hospital. After they evaluate everything, including her brain, they will then come up with a treatment plan. Dr. Joshi said as long as she does not have hydrocephalus or seizures, the cardio team will proceed with treating the heart. As of now, her Dandy-Walker has remained stable and has not progressed to hydrocephalus. Please pray that it continues to stabilize or even shrink!
     Dr. Joshi seemed very positive and hopeful about everything, and I felt blessed after our appointment. I am so thankful that Breckin's heart is not as severe as it could be, that we live so close to one of the best hospitals for HLHS treatment, that our cardiologist is a caring, Christian man, and that Breckin is already a little fighter! God led me to this verse this week in my quiet time: "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." Jeremiah 32:17. Later on in this same chapter, God says, "I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" (verse 26). This is definitely a verse I will be turning to in the coming months. When things get hard, I need to remember that nothing is too hard for God. If he can create the heavens and the earth with his hands, he can certainly heal Breckin's heart through whatever means he chooses, and he can bring her and us through the difficult surgeries.

Love,
Brooke
 

And of course, it wouldn't be a blog post without a new picture of Breckin :) This gives you an idea of the crazy position she was in when they were trying to look at her heart!