Hello! Wow it's creeping up on close to a year now since I've touched this blog. I'm back again in hopes to make it easier for everyone to keep track of updates on baby Iver, as well as keep a little diary on our journey.
In case you missed the memo, we found out on Christmas day 2015 that we were expecting our third child! Fast forward 18 weeks and we found out we were having another boy! And although I always thought it was weird when people did this, we've decided to tell everyone that we have named him Iver. It's really helped the bonding process for us and the kids, and I know so many people are praying for him by name! Unfortunately (and fortunately!), the same ultrasound that revealed his gender also revealed a possible congenital heart defect (CHD). Since then, we have been traveling to Edmonton for all of my prenatal appointments and scans, and the plan is to deliver at the Royal Alex.
Just over a week ago on June 14th, our most recent fetal echocardiogram (a special ultrasound of baby's heart) revealed a change in Iver's diagnosis. It seems that Iver's condition is what's called Truncus Arteriosis (TA), plus a VSD and CoA. TA is quite rare, representing only 1% of CHD's. If you click on these "Truncus Arteriosis" links, you will be redirected to a document that I wrote (and by wrote, I mean mostly copied and pasted), highlighting Iver's specific heart issues.
Iver will need to go on medication through IV immediately after he’s born and
transferred to the Stollery children’s hospital within the first couple hours of his life. He will need surgery in his first week, and may need multiple surgeries
depending on if they can fix everything at once or not.
In other news, we are now on the waiting list for the Ronald
McDonald House in Edmonton. We are set to arrive when
I am 37 weeks, but they can’t tell us until the Friday the week before if they
will have room for us. However, once we are in, we can stay for as long as we
need to.
In a little over a week, we are back to Edmonton for a full day of appointments. Mark will take the kids to an indoor playground in the morning while I meet with my obstetrician, get a full
ultrasound, and another fetal echo.
Afterwards, Mark and the kids will pick me up and we will all go to the
children’s hospital for our multidisciplinary meeting. This conference meeting
is to help put all of the information regarding Iver’s birth together for us.
We will be talking with the perinatologist (an obstetrical specialist
concerned with the care of the mother and fetus at higher-than-normal risk for
complications), the cardiologist, neonatologist (doctor who will take care of
me and Iver after birth) and the neonatal social worker. We will have the
chance to ask all of our questions and learn more about Iver’s condition and
care after birth. Following this meeting, the social worker will take us on a
tour of the NICU.
Thank you to everyone who have been praying for us! Please continue to pray for:
- A healthy third trimester
- No further complications with Iver's heart
- A place for our family at the Ronald McDonald House
- For all the medical staff who will be caring for Iver and mama
- A smooth delivery without complications
- Iver to be stable at birth. We would love to be able to hold him even for a minute before he is transferred to the children's hospital
- Continued peace as we trust in Jesus!
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