Monday, April 15, 2013

Pray for Abigail's Heart

At Abby's 15 month check up the pediatrician noticed a heart murmur. No one had ever heard one before. So to clear all our minds we were sent to a pediatric cardiologist. We went the next week to an amazing doctor. Abby did a horrible job being examined. Poor thing screamed her head off the whole time! People were coming into her ultrasound room from the other side of the office to see if they could help her calm down. They were able to get some pictures of her sweet heart but from all the screaming the pictures the doctor needed were compromised. He met with us afterwards and said he has a pretty good idea we have a problem. Not a huge one but it needs to be dealt with. It's called a PDA (Patent ductus arteriosus) and all babies in utero have them. When babies are born and take a breath for the first time it begins to close. Sometimes it take a day.... sometimes longer. He said by 16 months it should be closed. Here's a link for a more clear definition of her condition... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_ductus_arteriosus. The doctor said she is in excellent health. Her heart is super strong. She's growing perfectly. SO he is pretty sure the opening is small. We have to go back right after the baby is born to try the ultrasound again. If they can't get good pictures this time they will have to sedate her. After that they will decide when to go in and close the opening. The doctor said if it's small we can wait until she's like 4 or 5. If it's big we have to close it sooner. The procedure involves going through a vein in her leg and they will plug up the hole that way. She will have to stay overnight in the hospital with me there every second. So I hope it can wait until she is 4 or 5. The doctor said sometimes this condition isn't noticed in a healthy growing baby until they are like 15 and can't keep up running with other kids. We are so blessed and grateful they noticed it now. So if it is small and can wait to be worked on until she is older we will have to see the cardiologist every 6 months to keep an eye on it.
I was super concerned that no one ever heard the murmur before. The doctor said when the opening is bigger there is less sound. The smaller the opening gets the louder sound it makes. Abby's pediatrician said he thinks it can still close on it's own. We are praying and fasting that it will so we won't have to put her through the procedure. Please pray for Abigail's PDA to close on it's own. We have many friends going through absolute nightmares with their children's health. So I feel bad asking for your prayers. But it keeps gnawing at me to post this for our friends and family to pray for her. Please don't worry about our sweet Abigail. She is a sassy, adorable, very active little girl. We love you guys and appreciate your prayers on Abby's behalf.