Monday, for family home evening, we went to "Build a Bear" and built Alex a bear. It is darling with sweet little patches all over. The best patch is one in the shape of a heart over the heart. We hope he loves it. I have never been there before. It was really neat to let Ryleigh choose which of the bears she likes, help stuff him, wash and brush him(her ultimate fave part) and give him a name(Jordan, daddy picked that one out).She loved the whole thing. When we got home she ran right to the nursery and we put him in the crib. The next morning she checked to see of he was still there for baby Alex. She loves the thought of being a big sister.
Well, I gave the time line of events, so now I thought I would share the nitty-gritty of the dr. apt. at primaries with all the technical jargon. If you don't understand, it is really okay... of you do, and it helps you to understand our sweet baby better... then good. Also, there are a couple of sites with pictures that really helped me if you google hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).
The first thing the doctor explained to us was how a normal fetal heart works. This happens by receiving blood, nutrients and oxygen from the placenta it enters the heart via the inferior vena cave and into the right atrium. Within the right atrium there is a special fetal flap called the PFO.(we'll get back to that) then it goes into the ventricle and through he pulmonary valve and out into the lungs. From the lungs it goes to into the left atrium down to the left ventricle through the aortic valve and is then pumped to the body. Also in a fetus there is another fetal flap called the PDA(patent ductus arteriosus)this is a bypass from the pulmonary valve straight to the body, bypassing the lungs and the left side of the heart. You still have blood flow there, however fetus's live in a wet environment so they don't need all of that blood to go to their lungs. So...... Then he explained that in Alex's case he has 1. a dilated left ventricle 2. poor function of the LV 3. small mitral valve 4. Aortic valve is atretic 5. (Back to the PFO) it usually opens one way like a door, in his case it flutters, allowing blood to go back and forth from the right and left atriums, which is okay because it is taking pressure off his lungs 6. Back flow of blood through the aorta. So that is why this is so complex.. There is not one condition to solve there are many. So crazy. Plus some of this could change because he is still growing so much. Which is why he won't be considered HLHS until after he is born.
Clear as MUD? great! Post any questions....
We don't go to our next apt at primaries until the 20th of Feb... So we will know more then.
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1 comment:
Wow Brynn, it sounds so confusing but it seems like the doctors have explained everything really well to you guys. we continue to pray for little alex.
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