Little Troy

A couple of people have suggested that I write down what is happening in our family right now for my benefit and to let others know. Recently we were blessed to be given a podiatry residency in Bridgeport, CT at the Bridgeport Hospital. We know that we are extremely blessed, as there are many that do not have a residency due to a shortage. We had not even thought of CT as a possibility but if there is one thing that we know it is that Heavenly Father has watched over us on every step of this journey and He is still here guiding us. Now onto the current news...We had recently been given very good news about our baby (Little Troy). He had a cyst in his brain that cleared and a tendon on his heart that sometimes indicates Down's Syndrome is still there but blood work verified that he does not have Down's. What a huge blessing. Last Monday I went in for a normal OB check up on little Troy. I knew almost instantly that something was wrong. My doctor had a difficult time finding his heart beat and when he was able to find it, it was too slow. He took me to the ultrasound machine and the look on his face just became worse. The baby's heart beat should have been between 150-160 beats per minute and it was in the 70's. They told me to immediately go next door to Condell Hospital. It was like a scene from those hospital shows. My doctor came quickly and consulted, via phone, with a high risk ob that I had seen for my ultrasounds. They decided to transfer me to Lutheran General because of the excellent nursery there. He kept telling me that if they delivered the baby at 24 weeks, then he would most likely not survive. I probably looked like a deer in the headlights because he kept repeating himself. He held my hand and told Troy and I that whatever was happening to the baby was not due to anything regarding Troy's or my health. Thanks to an amazing friend, Troy was able to leave the girls with her and meet me at Condell before I was transferred by ambulance. He gave me a blessing of comfort, which I was so grateful to receive at that awful moment. The power of the priesthood is amazing and I am so grateful that Troy is a worthy and faithful priesthood holder. The doctors in Labor and Delivery were waiting for me when I arrived at Lutheran. A pediatric cardiologist (Dr. H) came to look at the ultrasound that L & D performed. Unfortunately, the news was not comforting. Whatever was going on, was or is very rare. She scheduled me for an echocardiogram the next morning. They were guessing that the baby had a heart block or premature atrial contractions. I was started on a steroid to hopefully help the baby's heart while other doctors were consulted. Later that afternoon, another L & D doctor came to talk to us. He had just happened to be working with a renowned pediatric cardiologist that day and she had looked at my case. She confirmed that the baby's heart problem was an abnormal case of abnormal SVT. She is currently running a test in Madison, WI that is only run in a very few parts of the country. It is a research test using magnetic therapy to analyze abnormal arrythymias in fetuses. She asked us to come to Madison the very next day to have the test. I was discharged to be able to go there. What a huge blessing to have this cardiologist be willing to offer this research test to us, at no charge, and so quickly. After the test, the researchers confirmed that they too were puzzled by this rare problem. One of the doctors called us and told us that we could stop the steroid because they were thinking that it would not help the problem. The renowned cardiologist (Dr. C) asked us to come to Elgin, IL on Friday to have another echocardiogram performed by her. This whole time we had the love and support of our families and our ward family. So many volunteered their time and service to help us with our girls. The girls have been taken such good care of by these amazing sisters. When the doctor started the echocardiogram we could tell that the news was not good. She said that she was so glad that she decided to have us come in. I believe that she was inspired by our Heavenly Father and we are so grateful that she listened. The baby did have a heart block and now had developed atrial flutter. The top of his heart was beating at about 500+ beats per minute and the bottom of his heart was not receiving the signal and only able to beat at 70 or so beats per minute. She explained that I would have to be readmitted for them to attempt to reverse the damage and to stop the flutter. If the atrial flutter could not be stopped then eventually the baby could go into congestive heart failure. We had time to go home to get the girls situated before heading back to Lutheran. Once again, our ward family was there without hesitation. The doctors decided to put me on a beta blocker to help the baby's atrial flutter and the steroid again to help the heart block. The baby's and my heart had to be monitored all night to make sure that we could both tolerate it. These poor L & D nurses took rotations holding the monitor on the baby because he would not stop moving. The next day, I was transferred back to L & D from the cardiac unit. The ultrasounds still showed the cardiac block and the atrial flutter. Dr. H met with us to let us know that she would be going out of town and that the process with the medication was going to take time. Today, the peds cardiologist, who had run the research test (Dr. C) came to perform the ultrasound. There was some small improvement but she reaffirmed that this was going to take time. I started to cry when she told me that the longest patient that had to have this kind of treatment was a six week stay. Our case is rare so they essentially are doing all that they can. Well, I started to cry... alot. I have tried to keep strong but hearing the word "weeks" crushed me. I miss my husband and my children. I am scared for our little boy. The doctor comforted me and let me know that she too was supposed to go away for a seminar but because of the abnormality of our baby's heart problem, she was cancelling most of her trip and will be in tomorrow to perform another echocardiogram. Another huge blessing. Troy was able to bring the girls to see me after church. They lifted my spirits. I love them so much. It was hard when they had to leave but thank goodness for phones. They showed such love and concern for their mother. They have such tender hearts and spirits. I want those to know who have given such selfless service, offered never ending prayers, visited me to offer comfort, that my family and I will never forget them. Our burden has been lightened. I hope that people know that even though Troy and I may sound down at times, it is not because of a lack of faith or hope.We know that Heavenly Father loves us and is constantly watching over us. We know that Jesus Christ has personally felt and carried our load. We are so grateful for the priesthood and prayer. Heavenly Father is ever mindful.