Ruthie Update

Sorry there had not been a post in a few days. This weekend we focused on spending time with Ruthie and really absorbing all the information we received Thursday and Friday.

Before I get into the Ruth update, I would like to ask for some prayers for two heart friends. Derrick, HLHS 8 months, is having his Glenn today. Please keep his family and his doctors in your prayers.. Also keep Lorenzo in your prayers. He is currently in the hospital with a chest tube in. As a heart momma, I truly feel for their families and mothers. Let God guide them and keep them safe during this journey.

At 2:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 14th, my phone began to ring. I picked it up quickly, in order not to disturb Ruthie's nap, and saw the number I had been dreading, yet waiting for all day: Dr. Goel, Cardiologist.

I answered,
"Hello."
"Hi, Laura?"
"Yes."
"This is Kelly from Dr. Goel's office."
Without so much as a breath, she continued,
"Have you heard from Children's Hospital yet?"
Instantly, I knew something was not right. I would not be hearing from Children's unless there was a change in plans.
"No", I responded, "We have not heard from Children's today."
Kelly- "Okay good. Well we are going to do a heart cath on Ruthie before her Glenn. Dr. Goel and Dr. Huddleson (the surgeon) sat down yesterday and reviewed all of Ruth's information. Her charts, her echos, her history. They spoke for a few hours about how to proceed with her case. Dr Goel is waiting to speak to you now. So hold on a second and I will get him on the line."
Me- "Oh, okay. Thanks Kelly."
I can not explain to you how I felt in that moment. Another cath? I know we talked about doing another cath after her pressures were too high last time (back in November). I just thought that since they scheduled surgery that we did not need another cath and that her pressures were going to be okay enough for us to have the Glenn.
In the midst of my intense thinking, I heard,
"Laura?"
"Hi, Dr. Goel."
Dr. Goel- "Okay, so Kelly told you that we are planning on a Cath next week for Ruth, right?"
Mw- "Yes, she did. We are waiting on our call from Children's for more information about times and dates right now."
Dr. Goel- "Okay. Well we sat down yesterday, Dr. Huddleson and I. We feel that something is missing. Her heart function is poor and we are not sure what could be causing it. Dr. Huddleson wants Dr. Balzer to do a heart cath to check out the exact pressure measurements in her heart and to check out what all is going on. He wants to know what her heart is up to before surgery. We just feel like her heart function looks too poor, not to figure out what all is going on before surgery. Her pressures seem a bit high and we need more information."
Me- "Okay, I agree Dr. Goel. It makes sense to understand what is going on before we have open heart surgery. What type of numbers are we looking for in her heart?"
Dr. Goel- "I believe her pressure is in the 12-15 range. 15 is high, but not too high for surgery. If her pressure is around 20 or higher, then we will have to re-think her next step. 20 would be too high for us to do the Glenn."
Me- "What will be our next steps after the Cath?"
Dr. Goel- "After the cath, we will know exactly what we are dealing with. If her pressure ranges from 8-15, then Dr. Huddleson would decide when we should do the Glenn. If the pressure is 20 or higher, then we will have to talk about a cardiac transplant."
That is where I stopped absorbing his every word. I couldn't get past the term CARDIAC TRANSPLANT.
He just said we could looking at a heart transplant. WHAT?!?
I can only summarize the rest of our conversation after this point. My head was a bit clouded and confused to remember exact wording.
He did proceed to say that he had reason to believe that her pressure would be just right for the Glenn. He said Ruth didn't show signs or symptoms of cardiac failure and that she was still eating very well. He is concerned about her enlarged liver still and her pressures, but he feels like those are signs pointing to the Glenn; saying its time. They just need to be sure and a heart cath would give them more in depth and accurate information.
Dr. Goel, Dr. Balzer, , Dr. Huddleson are all on this case. We have had them there from the start of Ruthie's life and we are very please to have them all on board. We are blessed to be in such good hands.

So, where do we go from here?....

On Friday, Jan. 22nd, Ruthie will have her heart cath. Dr. Balzer will be checking her pressure and her heart very closely. WE want to make sure there is nothing unknown or hidden before we have open heart surgery. Surprises during open heart surgery are not good, so the more we know the better.
After the cath we will know what her little heart is up to and we can either plan for surgery or join the heart transplant list.

We have a long week ahead of us. A week of worry, anticipation, excitement, fear and hope. We are looking forward to finding out more information, but at the same time a bit gun shy. It just serves as a reminder that we are on a journey. We will never stop worrying about her heart. We will never stop praying. We know that although we did not choose this road, we will ride it out. We know God will guide us and provide for us. We believe He knows best, so who are we to question?

Along with a big heart cath this week, we are hitting another milestone for Ruth.

RUTH TURNS 5 MONTHS OLD TODAY!!!

At 9:59 am on August 18, 2009 Ruth Elizabeth was born. Our lives started a new path with that first cry.

5 months ago today:



Today, at 5 months old:)

How old is Ruthie??



5 WHOLE MONTHS! (notice her hand! LOL)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GIRL!

We love you so much and we are so proud of you. God has shown his marvelous works and miracles through you.

Heart Hugs!

Laura, Josh, and Ruthie!