Baby Christopher

Last week I had my full ultrasound and everything looked normal except that they couldn't get a good view of the 4 chambers of the heart. The doctor scheduled an appointment for me to go in today for a fetal echocardiogram and I was hopeful that it would just be poor positioning of the baby. The doctor took me to a consultation room after doing the echo and explained to me that the baby had a pretty severe defect and he told me all about how the heart works. Then he flipped the page over and I saw the words Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. My heart sank and I broke down. I understood fairly well what that entailed since I worked in a NICU for a year. It is one of the worst congenital heart defects. The doctor presented me with some options, and Matt and I feel very strongly that, as of right now, we are going to go ahead with the series of 3 reconstructive surgeries. The first will take place after he is about a week old and will be the most dangerous. If he survives that he has a good chance of surviving the other two and leading a fairly normal life. Since this procedure is fairly new (started in the 1980s), the oldest survivors are in their late 20s, so the long-term prognosis is unknown.

As for the pregnancy, everything should be just fine. I don't have any restrictions and we don't forsee any complications. I will deliver at the University of Utah hospital because it is right next to Primary Childrens Medical Center, where they will take him pretty quickly after birth. I should still be able to have a normal delivery and this poses absolutely no threat to my health (well, physical health, anyway).

Matt and I had a hard day, but through talking it over and lots of prayers we are feeling pretty hopeful. We know we are in for a roller coaster ride, but we are going to take one day at a time and do what we can to get this kid healthy. We have good insurance, so I don't think we will be very burdened, financially. We know there is a reason behind this trial and we are going to bear it as best we can. In the mean time, we are loving our healthy, happy girls and I'm soaking up every minute I can get with Shannon before she begins all-day kindergarten on August 3rd (yikes!).

We would appreciate any prayers you can offer and we love you all. Thanks!

Holly