Today we are thankful! Yesterday was Izzy's annual heart appointment. It went well. And the words "optimistic" and "hopeful" were used by our wonderful doc. So anytime that happens I'll call it good! Of course, our doc is also a mom with a new baby (4 mo old) at home so she may also have been so tired that she thought she was at Chili's for dinner and was talking about what she ordered. But she reported she had had two cups of coffee and was doing fine. Still, sorta glad we weren't talking about surgery as I would have had to he sure her baby was sleeping through the night first. The summary of the visit is below. The pic above is of Izzy and Jeff with the Big Bird statue at Mott's. Overall it was a blast for her. She got stickers-- that they put on her belly to attach wires to in order to listen to her heart. Then she got to watch a new Elmo DVD which thankfully put her into a hypnotic trance while she had to lie still for 45 minutes during the echo. I still feel like I witnessed a miracle that that part went so well! Then she got a piggy back ride around the pediatric cardiology floor while we waited to see the doc. Then Jeff bought her panda stickers in the gift shop. It was all followed by a lollipop and a walk over to see the Big Bird statue! And Addie slept through almost all of it. All in all, it was more exciting and fun than a non-hospital day around here- not that that means I want more hospital trips. I found my heart breaking for the moms who were discussing heart surgery with their docs, and for all those I know struggling with sick kids. My prayers go out to them. Thank you to all who prayed for Izzy, that the visit
would go smoothly and that we would get good news-- answered prayers. We thank God.
Here's are the details, copied from an email I sent yesterday...
The hole hasn't closed. It has closed partially. The Dr was surprised it's still so open since last year they couldn't hear it at all. But since they did the echo this year they could definitely see it that it's still there.
She said that we don't need surgery in the "foreseeable future" and that she is holding out hope that it will close the rest of the way. Even if it doesn't close in the next two years she may not recommend surgery as the hole doesn't seem to be causing any distress for the heart (no enlargement or valve problems).
So we go back in two years at which time they will likely make a surgery decision either way. Sounds like the odds are in our favor that no surgery will be needed. I sure hope that that is the case!
