With the loss of Jason's job we thought it would be a good idea to have the girls checked by their pediatrician since we would be without insurance 2 weeks later. During the visit their pediatrician detected a heart murmur on Addie. He said he did not want to alarm us but we needed to have it checked to see if it was innocent or not. Best case scenario it would be an innocent murmur, worst case; a hole in her heart. Jason asked what he meant by innocent and he said, "Innocent meaning just that, innocent; not OJ innocent"...lol. He sent us for a chest x-ray, and an ECG, then referred us to a pediatric cardiologist. The pedi. cardio. sent us for an echo too.
Two days before Christmas Addison was diagnosed with an ASD, Large Secundum Atrial Septal Defect...she has a hole in her heart. The ultrasound tech. did not do her job right and the test was incomplete so they were unable to tell us the size of the hole. Since we did not have all the details at that point in time we kept the diagnosis a little hush hush.
She had her echo done again this past Friday with her pedi. cardio. and we were told the news that we were dreading to hear...
Addie's hole is BIG. It is actually causing one side of her heart to enlarge. She needs to have surgery soon and is not a candidate for catheterization which means she will have open-heart surgery. Of course as a Mother I wanted to know exactly what that entails so thanks to the internet I googled it. If you want to read what the Mayo Clinic had to say click here.
As a Parent, reading that your babies heart will be stopped is absolutely devastating. No matter how many of these procedures they have done or how amazing the hospital and staff is, it is OUR baby that will be on that table. The sweet little girl her big sister, Mommy, and Daddy prayed for. A good friend of mine said that God would not let us get this far, place that baby in our arms, and then take her away. I have to believe that she is right for no other possibility is acceptable for me.
Her case will be presented to the board at Loma Linda on Wednesday and we should receive a call by Friday to let us know where we go from here. I will post any updates on the blog.
We are praying and keeping faith that the Lord will see us through this obstacle as he has all others. Please keep our baby girl in your prayers too.
~Shea
PS. The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways. We thought Jason getting laid off was so tragic...when in fact is has brought this all to light for us. Without the lay off we would not have found out about her heart this soon. As a friend shared in a story recently at MOPS..."Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God."
Addie's heart. The hole is measured by the dotted line connecting the two little pieces of wall that do exist. That entire area should be solid.
11 comments:
HI Shea,
I saw your email on the MOPS board and wanted to let you know that I'm praying for your little girl, as well as you and your family. God is always at work.
Hugs!
Paige (table 2)
Shea I don't even know what to say. Thank God that it was detected...and didn't this just happen with Cheryl's little girl.
Maybe chat with her too...since it was such a success, might help?? Know that you are all in our prayers.
Hugs.
Shea,
We are praying for you guys that God will comfort you and give you peace in this time of chaos! If you need anything let us know!
Hi Shea,
We don't know each other but I'm a former MOPSter and still get updates on the MOPS board. I saw your request for prayer requests and just wanted to let you know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers!!! I pray that you continue to feel God's love and strong arms holding you and Addison tight!!!
Blessings!!
April
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Shea, Jason, and Peyton,
Our prayers and Love are with your family at this special time in Addies life. With the grace of God she will be well looked after...without the shift in job surcumstances this would not have been detected as soon. With the love and devotion you have with God she will come through it just fine.Addies litteraly has the Holy Spirit in her Heart. Let me know if there is Anything! I can do. And of course our prayers and thoughts are with you all. Give those girls a great big hug from me.
Love your friend Martha
and
Addies "BFF"
Hi Shea... I'm so sorry that your echo did indeed detect the ASD. Like you said though, God works in mysterious ways, it is good that you found the defect and can have it quickly repaired. THANK GOD you found it!
When I look at the echo, it just reminds me EXACTLY of Jadery's! Her hole was in that same spot- hence her ASD, but higher up, so they didn't have any of the upper chamber to attach the Amplatzer device to. YES. Having the knowledge of knowing her heart will be on the bypass machine is way too much information for one to know. It is so hard to describe the feeling- brings back way bad memories. Spend the time you have before the surgery together. WE PRAY FOR YOU and that Addie will be healed! I'm sorry, that is no consolation, till she is wheeled out of surgery and recovery, you won't feel at ease. And yes, I can vouch for that...
How large is the hole? Was that the 1.7cm reading on the echo?
I think i'm rambling, but i'm going to keep posted here. I'm sorry that you have to go through this, and yes, getting on the phone is tough- but just know i'm just a phone call away if you want to talk.
Take care Corsettis!
Hi Shea - I clicked on your blog for Paige's blog. I will definitely keep you and your family in my prayers. Your girls are beautiful!!! God is good! xo
You have such beautiful children. This blog will go into many homes and increase the number of prayers going up for this precious little one. We will be praying for your family and for the doctors and nurses who will taking care of her. They need to know that you are praying for them...it will help them know the "family" that is behind their precious bundle. :>)
God bless you all. I am your new friend Stephanie's aunt. She asked me to pray for you and I found your blog. I know exactly what you're going through. My son was diagnosed with exactly the same thing - 31 years ago! We prayed like we had never prayed before. Being Catholic, I prayed the rosary constantly. My thought was that Mary endured the worst pain watching her Son die that she knew the pain I was feeling - and I told her that. I am convinced that she intervened for me and hat her Son healed my son - as we had prayed for. We had been scheduled for open heart surgery also at Loma Linda. We were at at the pediocardio's office taking the usual tests yet again when the dr discovered that the hole WAS GONE!
No explanation - he couldn't detect any hole where it had just been a couple of weeks before.
My point is this. Prayer is our best defense. It may not take away Addie's hole at this point, but it will, I'm sure, make the surgery a success. Just as another person wrote, God wouldn't have been merciful enough to make you aware of the problem in the first place (job loss, checking out the girls medically before losing insurance, etc.) sending you to the rightdoctor (Dr. Bailey is WONDERFUL), giving you the timing to make it all happen and surrounding you with so many people who are praying for you.
God does work in mysterious ways. The important thing is to make sure you sing HIS praises and acknowledge that you have faith in Him and that you trust Him to take care of your baby. He loves you and your family and just wants you to love Him back (spread His name)!
God bless you all - "Aunt" Peggy
Shea,
God certainly works in mysterious ways. I will pray for Addison and the entire Corsetti Family. God will see you through this time and watch over you all.
Love,
Kerri
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