Echo-cardiogram - Some Relief

February 26, 2010

I couldn't wait to get home to get this email out. Today a Pediatric Cardiologist did a echo cardiogram on both babies. There were a LOT of prayers in the last few days and today Jessica and I got to see the result of those prayers. Although not in the clear by any means, we got positive news during our appointment. First was Baby A (we think, he kept getting them mixed up). Monday, this baby had a heart arrhythmia called a PAC. Today, there was no sign of it - a completely normal functioning heart (a little bigger than a pea by the way). He looked at everything imaginable with the heart and kept describing it as beautiful and perfect.

Then he went to Baby B, after a little confusion again. Monday it was thought this baby had hypoplastic right heart syndrome or Ebstein's Anamoly. Both of these are not good. What the doctor found today was neither of those, instead it is tricuspid stenosis. Basically, the tricuspid valve is not closing completely and there is leakage between 2 chambers of the heart. From what I understand, this isn't really a problem in the fetus because the heart doesn't pump blood through the lungs. After delivery, the heart automatically knows it needs to start pumping blood to the lungs now which then puts more back pressure on this valve. That in turn causes more leakage back into the Right Atrium instead of going into the Right Ventricle. This may still cause us to have to deliver out of town but doesn't sound as bad as what we had thought. He is going to check it again in 4-6 weeks. He wouldn't give us any long term prognosis for this condition, only that it will have to be closely monitored.

Still there are many possible scenarios with Twin A having very little amniotic fluid and Twin B's heart condition. We ask for continued prayer throughout the next few weeks to keep the Twins in mommy so they can grow and have a better chance to survive when they deliver.

We cannot tell you how much everyone's thoughts and prayers have helped us in this situation. Support of great friends and family cannot be valued enough.

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:23-25

Brandon and Jessica