Memorial Day

                                                                 

                       
 "For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments-- I am the LORD.The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast" (Exodus 12:13-14)


On several occasions in our family we have stopped and recognized days as days of "memorial"....We often sit the children down and explain what God has done and we have moments throughout that day, week, or year we stop and give thanks to God for the incredible work He did and reminisce on the " memorial" day. Often times we've remembered God's provision, His faithfulness in a situation, or His asking of us to step out in faith in a situation and each time we marveled  over His goodness and love for us.

Yesterday was one of those days...We sat the kids down and shared what God has done and we told them to remember this day...as a day of God's kindness, mercy, and faithfulness in KatieJoy's life.

We met with the cardiologist yesterday to discuss the surgical plan for KatieJoy's heart condition. First let me TRY to explain her condition as best as I can.

Her Condition:

1. Complete Atrioventricular Canal defect (CAVC)-A large hole in center of the heart affecting all four chambers where they would normally be divided. When a heart is properly divided, the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs does not mix with the oxygen-poor blood from the body. A CAVC allows blood to mix and the chambers and valves to not properly route the blood to each station of circulation. (American Heart Association)

2. Endocardial cushion defect (ECD) is an abnormal heart condition. The walls separating all four chambers of the heart are poorly formed or absent.

3. No spleen

4. Dextrocardia- is where the heart is pointed toward the right side of the chest instead of the left.

5. Left side of the heart does not function.

6. Double Inlet Ventricle- ok!!! Stopping here....by now you are probably hearing Charlie Brown's mom... Whah!Whah!Whah!Whah! And honestly I don't know what this is...

NOTE: Mom and Wendy ... if you are reading this please correct anything I messed up!!! I am a mommy, not a doctor:)

NOW THAT MY BRAIN IS COMPLETELY OVERLOADED......

Here is the exciting part...

In Bulgaria we were told she was in heart failure but the cardiologist believes this is no longer the case. The Lord has healed this!!

We, as well as her stateside doctors, believed we would have to proceed with the heart catheterization and surgery ASAP but were are not!! We are getting to wait until March to have the heart cath because her cardiologist believes she is doing extremely well right now. Depending on what is found in the cath he believes, right now, we can wait 6 months to a year for the surgery!! This in and of itself is a miracle! We were also able to take her off/reduce most of her meds. GO GOD!!!!!!!!!!!

BUT.....

We have a huge prayer request :

1. Please pray she stays well, this plays a huge factor in so many things.

2.We are asking for each of you to pray that when they do go in to do the heart cath they find that she does in fact have two  bottom chambers. (Medical records say no but our cardiologist believes the echos may be showing a second). If she does have the second chamber then the surgery they are going to do (although difficult) has longer lasting effects and gives an extremely increased life expectancy. If she doesn't have the second chamber then they will do a surgery that can lead to some difficulties as she grows into adulthood and it has been known to have shorter lasting effects.
3. Her heart condition causes complications with her lungs and because of this they need to find out if her lungs have been irreparably damaged or if they are fine and just functioning the way they do because of her heart condition. Determining this will be done in the upcoming days through possibly a CT Scan or an MRI on her lungs, they will also be able to see some of this during the heart cath.

We have heard from many doctors that KatieJoy is a miracle.. and we agree! But one thing we are constantly driving home to whoever asks is that SHE IS NOT A MEDICAL MARVEL BUT A MIRACLE OF OUR FAITHFUL GOD!!!!

So this is why  yesterday was a day of "memorial"... 

To God be the Glory!