Echocardiogram 2014

 Well, another year's echo has come, and gone!  Thank you so much to everyone who sent me a text, email, or said a prayer for us.  I was one nervous Mom.  Even though I had a pretty good feeling everything was going to be ok, I was one big, sweaty palmed, knotted stomach wreck. And the cherry on top?  I took Lia all by myself.  I am used to Ryan's reassurance at cardiology appointments, but it wasn't in the cards this time with his work, nor could my mom get the afternoon off, so it was just me.  I especially like to have an extra person with me to make sure I don't miss anything, or forget to ask a specific question.  Especially since heart disease involves so much medical terminology. But, I survived.

My goodness--you would think this appointment was all about me! Ok, now onto the patient-- Miss Lia.  She was SO AWESOME.  Usually, she bawls through the chest x ray--especially since we don't get to go with her for that.  She was hesitant, but went.  Even walked into the room herself.  She usually bawls through the EKG.  Not one single tear. The echo?  Not one peep from her.  She knew her Mom was nervous, and sure was easing a few of my nerves.  I couldn't believe it. She even fell asleep in my arms as we waited for Dr. Lozier to come talk to me about the results.  Speaking of the results, we got a another year's clearance!  Yay!  I still haven't fully grasped the thought that the next surgery is years away (God willing), because everything happened so fast with her in the beginning.  Birth, ICU, flight to Kansas City, more ICU, Surgery 1, Surgery 2, Surgery 3, collapsed diaphragm, chylothorax, hemangiomas.  In that order.  All before she was 2 months old.  Now it's all fixed, and I just get to sit back and wait.  And that's hard for me!

We are so thankful and praise God for the continued good news we hear about Lia and her special heart.  We will have a check-up in July, (just an EKG) and then won't go back for another echo until next January!

I always just assume everyone knows what I'm talking about when I say 'echo', but when a co-worker asked me what that was, I got to thinking that maybe not everyone knows what one is, so I'm leaving you with a few definitions of medical terminology that is very much apart of the Shields Family vocabulary.

Echocardiogram:


a test of the action of the heart using ultrasound waves to produce a visual display, used for the diagnosis or monitoring of heart disease

Tetrology of Fallot:
 is a cardiac anomaly that refers to a combination of four related heart defects that commonly occur together. The four defects are: 
1.  Pulmonary stenosis − narrowing of the pulmonary valve and outflow tract or area below the valve that creates an obstruction (blockage) of blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery 
2.  Ventricular septal defect / VSD 

3.  Overriding aorta − the aortic valve is enlarged and appears to arise from both the left and right ventricles instead of the left ventricle as in normal hearts 

4.  Right ventricular hypertrophy − thickening of the muscular walls of the right ventricle, which occurs because the right ventricle is pumping at high pressure
A small percentage of children with Tetralogy of Fallot may also have additional ventricular septal defects, an atrial septal defect / ASD or abnormalities in the branching pattern of their coronary arteries. Some patients with Tetralogy of Fallot have complete obstruction to flow from the right ventricle, or pulmonary atresia. Tetralogy of Fallot may be associated with chromosomal abnormalities, such as 22q11 deletion syndrome.


Clear as mud?  Ok, enjoy the pictures!

Loved the encouraging notes, texts, and prayers we got!

Waiting for echo to start

Of course she had to wear heart socks!

Fell asleep in my arms!  It ended up being the best Thursday ever!