Email #4

As I have just reread this email I see that Dr. Melone said there was it would be near impossible that Faith would survive outside of the womb because of her heart defect. Hmm. She was wrong.


We had another level 2 ultrasound (a more high tech ultrasound than my regular OBGYN has) with the perintologist, Dr. Melone, today. Dr. Melone is a specialist in high risk pregnancies and is the one who first found the defects in Faith at my 20 week ultrasound. I am now finishing my 32nd week.

In today's ultrasound she found another defect with Faith's heart - much worse than the 3 existing defects we already knew about (the cleft lip, atrial septal defect of the heart, and the omphalocele (hole in stomach where Faith's insides are outside of her stomach)). Faith's heart has a double outlet in her right ventricle, which will make it near impossible for her to survive outside of my womb. Because of this, her left ventricle is very underdeveloped. Thus, the chance that little Faith will live for very long (no matter how much or how little we intervene) is slim.

After we saw Dr. Melone, we met with another neonatologist to reevaluate and discuss our birth plan in light of the severity of her heart problems. Shiloh and I have agreed on a birth plan, which alleviates some of the stress and anxiety of our situation. We are also going to meet with a cardiologist (December 3rd) at Children's Hospital in Oakland to confirm Dr. Melone's findings.
11/22/02
Physically, I am still feeling pretty good. Emotionally, Shiloh and I both have ups and downs. It is definitely getting harder as the days go by and we approach our due date. And often times Trisomy babies come earlier, so I really could go into labor at anytime. But God is faithful. Just when I think I cannot handle it anymore, he somehow reminds me that He is control of the situation. In fact, on Wednesday we met with a surgeon, Dr. Idowu, to discuss the possibility of correcting Faith's omphalocele (which now seems improbable being that her heart is so bad). He offered us so much spiritual encouragement that I was blown away. He reminded us that God would take care of me and Shiloh and Faith. He reminded us that God's wisdom is beyond ours and that he does want to use this situation for good. God loves his children. He was an unbelievable blessing to me and so lifted my spirit.

PLEASE continue to pray for us as we RELY on strength from God. He is our peace. He is our hope.

One Scripture I have been clinging to lately is Psalm 142:3 "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path."

Thanks again for all the love and support.

Wendy (and Shiloh)