Elizabeth Archives - Pregnancy Update

Hello Family and Friends,

Matt will follow up with a more formal explanation of the findings, but the short story is, there is a definite Coarctation, and the left heart is still small, though not definitely problematic...(they'll do tests after she's born)
In light of these findings, we've got a better idea of what things will look like after she's born. If things don't change, the prognosis for birth is:


As long as there are no other complications, I'll be able to hold her for a few moments (don't know how long) right after birth, then she will definitely have to go to the NICU or the Cardiac ICU where they'll test her vitals and give her a test to see how soon she'll need surgery. From what I could tell, Dr. Hornberger (her Pediatric Cardiologist) is leaning toward her needing surgery soon after, but it could be anywhere from a few hours to 6 weeks. If she doesn't need immediate surgery and has no other complications, she should be able to come home with us for a while before the surgery. If she does need immediate surgery, they'll determine which one (the less dramatic entry through the side, or the open heart surgery through the chest wall) and then she'll be in the NICU (or CICU) until she's recovered. (the longer they are able to wait to do surgery, the quicker the recovery should be - older babies heal faster...though because she has Turner, she may have a slower recovery due to her compromised lymphatic (drainage) system)


Ironically, the toughest part is hearing that she won't be able to stay with me after birth and possibly won't be able to come home with us. My heart is heavy about this. Part of me wants to just go in and take her out now, just so we can deal with a "definite" scenario. Waiting and not knowing when she'll come, and then after that what will happen, is a little tough.


We're doing alright. Tomorrow we've got another apt. with my OB - will you pray that Matt can come? My last appt. with her was really frustrating as she breezed in and out and I couldn't ask questions. Matt will be able to remember what we need to ask her and hopefully will be able to decipher her med-speak for me.


We'll have an ultrasound on Friday - just to measure her size and see what's going on with the Hygroma and the Cerebellum...


Will you pray also that we would have favor with the Pediatricians that we've emailed? Our OB has recommended us to some Sr. Faculty (who would be better at dealing with a Turner case and all the complications that brings) but so far none of them have responded to our requests for them to open their service to us (they're technically "full" and not accepting patients, so this is how it's done). We'd like to get in with one of them and have an appt. before Elizabeth is born so we can set up the game plan for how to treat her after birth. So many things to think about.


Matt went straight from our apt. to his Wed. Conference, so we haven't had a chance to process, so as a result I'm not really wanting to get on the phone...I'm not doing badly, just don't have much to say. Thanks for your prayers. I was reminded in the moments before we left for the Echo...God's plan is perfect. We still believe this.


Love you all,

Sara

Elizabeth Archives - Pregnancy Update

Hi Everyone,


It's been a while since we updated you, and thankfully, that's because there's been nothing dramatic to report! Our daughter continues to grow...proving by her kicks that her current dwelling is shrinking fast. Our last ultrasound indicated that she's in the 56th percentile for growth, and showed evidence that she's thriving. It also revealed that her Cystic Hygroma (the fluid collection at the back of her neck) is shrinking! We've now made it past the 35 week mark and if necessary could safely deliver her without many of the risks associated with premature delivery. These are all direct answers to prayer.


In a few weeks we'll have another appointment (they come every 2 weeks now) as well as another Fetal Echocardiogram. This will be our last chance to see what's going on with her heart and we're praying for continued healing. And we are so grateful for your prayers. A few nights ago, our God-daughter, Quinlee, (who is 2) called (with the help of her parents) and on the answering machine prayed, "Lord, bless Baby Harms!" On our way out of church last week, a gentleman stopped Matt and I and said, "The Lord told me to pray for your baby's salvation...so we're praying for her health and that she would come to know God at an early age." Perfect strangers are being moved to pray for our daughter...God is so good to us.


Overall, Matt and I are doing really well. The bible verse that has best expressed my heart lately is Psalm 30:11-12 ~


You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.


I feel like we've turned a corner, from mourning to rejoicing and we are eager to see what God does in our daughter between now and the day she arrives. In the meantime, we're painting, carpeting, installing furniture, washing clothes, sewing bedding, and last Saturday, we went to a class where we finally learned how to have a baby!


Finally, we have a name! We've chosen Elizabeth Joy Harms. Elizabeth is my middle name and means, "devoted to God" and Joy, well, joy is what we feel about her!


I've attached a picture of our progress...both in belly size


With Love,

Sara, Matt & Elizabeth Joy