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We just wanted to take the time to inform you of a new development in Aaris's health. We have been hit with a lot of information in the last 24 hours and will most likely not remember who we have or have not told yet, so we thought we would pass on what we know all at one time.
I have taken Aaris into the doctor 2 times in the last 6 days due to, first a constant cough, and then, yesterday, a busted ear drum. At the first visit on Friday we saw another doctor in the pediatric practice that said Aaris just had a respiratory virus and then nonchalantly said that she still has her heart murmur. I told him that Aaris has never had a heart murmur. He said that maybe it was innocent and just caused by her being sick and that I should come back in 2 weeks after she is completely well to make sure that the murmur was gone. Well, we ended up going back yesterday to find out she had a busted ear drum. This time we saw Aaris's regular doctor. She listened to her heart for quite some time. Then she said that she would like us to get in to see a pediatric cardiologist that day if possible. She was going to make the appointment for us (this was at 12:00). I got a call from her a little after 1:00 saying we had an appointment at 3:00 with the cardiologist. Aaris courageously experienced a lot of new things like EKGs and ultrasounds. At about 5:00, right after Aaris had fallen asleep on the doctors table, he came in to tell me that Aaris has a congenital heart disease. It is called Primum Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). Basically there is a hole in Aaris's heart that is 1.1 - 1.4 cm large in the wall (septum) that separates the upper chambers (atria) of the heart into right and left atrium. She has had this since birth but it has gone undetected because most ASDs do not produce symptoms in children. Atrial Septal Defect is the second most common Congenital Heart Disease and is more common in girls. The difference with Aaris is that hers is a Primum ASD. This has to do with the location. It is closer to the "cross bones" of the heart referring to where the 4 chambers of the heart all meet together. The only way to fix this problem is with open heart surgery which means that they will have to stop her heart and she will be connected to a heart-lung machine. The surgeon will make an incision in the middle of her chest through the breast bone to expose the heart. The hole is patched with a special mesh. Once the procedure is complete, the heart is re-started and the chest incision is sutured. She will be in ICU right afterwards and then hopefully moved to a regular room for 4-5 days. If all goes well, we can then go home with medications. She should be healed completely in 3 months. He doesn't want her to be operated on until the Spring or Summer because then we will be out of the cold/virus/flu season which would only throw an unnecessary risk factor into the surgery and healing. So, we will meet with the actual surgeon at the beginning of March. Her surgery will take place at the new Dell's Children's Hospital here in Austin.
Reasons we have to rejoice because it's obvious that this is all God's plan:
-They say that the best time for surgery for this defect is between the ages of 3 and 6 (Aaris is 3).
-The doctor said that the murmur she came in for yesterday was innocent and had no relation to this problem. They just accidentally came upon it. So, since most ASDs go undetected, God had to find a way to get us into, first, the regular doctor (strange cough and then busted eardrum) and secondly, to the cardiologist, anyway.
-The doctor said that of all the open heart surgeries there are, that this is the most cut and dry/least complicated one.
-She can lead a perfectly normal and healthy life after the surgery and not have the severe heart problems that would have occurred if this would not have been found now.
-When we were reading Aaris's Bible story to her last night, we opened it up to discover that the title of last night's lesson was "Looking at the Heart".
-My friend, Kristen Perkins, was flooded with scriptures from the Holy Spirit yesterday all about healing and the heart and children.
-Aaron's first ever over-night work trip was yesterday, so I was forced to draw all my strength and assurance from God first.
We are richly blessed to have you all in our lives. Through you, God has given us a huge support group. You all know how precious Aaris is. She teaches me about faith every day. She is the most prayerful person of anyone I know. So, now I ask that you say prayers on her behalf. I know that this will be a completely successful surgery because of all of our combined faith in God.
I have taken Aaris into the doctor 2 times in the last 6 days due to, first a constant cough, and then, yesterday, a busted ear drum. At the first visit on Friday we saw another doctor in the pediatric practice that said Aaris just had a respiratory virus and then nonchalantly said that she still has her heart murmur. I told him that Aaris has never had a heart murmur. He said that maybe it was innocent and just caused by her being sick and that I should come back in 2 weeks after she is completely well to make sure that the murmur was gone. Well, we ended up going back yesterday to find out she had a busted ear drum. This time we saw Aaris's regular doctor. She listened to her heart for quite some time. Then she said that she would like us to get in to see a pediatric cardiologist that day if possible. She was going to make the appointment for us (this was at 12:00). I got a call from her a little after 1:00 saying we had an appointment at 3:00 with the cardiologist. Aaris courageously experienced a lot of new things like EKGs and ultrasounds. At about 5:00, right after Aaris had fallen asleep on the doctors table, he came in to tell me that Aaris has a congenital heart disease. It is called Primum Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). Basically there is a hole in Aaris's heart that is 1.1 - 1.4 cm large in the wall (septum) that separates the upper chambers (atria) of the heart into right and left atrium. She has had this since birth but it has gone undetected because most ASDs do not produce symptoms in children. Atrial Septal Defect is the second most common Congenital Heart Disease and is more common in girls. The difference with Aaris is that hers is a Primum ASD. This has to do with the location. It is closer to the "cross bones" of the heart referring to where the 4 chambers of the heart all meet together. The only way to fix this problem is with open heart surgery which means that they will have to stop her heart and she will be connected to a heart-lung machine. The surgeon will make an incision in the middle of her chest through the breast bone to expose the heart. The hole is patched with a special mesh. Once the procedure is complete, the heart is re-started and the chest incision is sutured. She will be in ICU right afterwards and then hopefully moved to a regular room for 4-5 days. If all goes well, we can then go home with medications. She should be healed completely in 3 months. He doesn't want her to be operated on until the Spring or Summer because then we will be out of the cold/virus/flu season which would only throw an unnecessary risk factor into the surgery and healing. So, we will meet with the actual surgeon at the beginning of March. Her surgery will take place at the new Dell's Children's Hospital here in Austin.
Reasons we have to rejoice because it's obvious that this is all God's plan:
-They say that the best time for surgery for this defect is between the ages of 3 and 6 (Aaris is 3).
-The doctor said that the murmur she came in for yesterday was innocent and had no relation to this problem. They just accidentally came upon it. So, since most ASDs go undetected, God had to find a way to get us into, first, the regular doctor (strange cough and then busted eardrum) and secondly, to the cardiologist, anyway.
-The doctor said that of all the open heart surgeries there are, that this is the most cut and dry/least complicated one.
-She can lead a perfectly normal and healthy life after the surgery and not have the severe heart problems that would have occurred if this would not have been found now.
-When we were reading Aaris's Bible story to her last night, we opened it up to discover that the title of last night's lesson was "Looking at the Heart".
-My friend, Kristen Perkins, was flooded with scriptures from the Holy Spirit yesterday all about healing and the heart and children.
-Aaron's first ever over-night work trip was yesterday, so I was forced to draw all my strength and assurance from God first.
We are richly blessed to have you all in our lives. Through you, God has given us a huge support group. You all know how precious Aaris is. She teaches me about faith every day. She is the most prayerful person of anyone I know. So, now I ask that you say prayers on her behalf. I know that this will be a completely successful surgery because of all of our combined faith in God.
6 comments:
What an overwhelming day it must've been to go from earache to open heart surgery. We will be praying for God to continue to be your source of comfort, courage and strength. Thank you for sharing so that we can be praying.
I can't imagine how scary all of this must be for all of you, especially Aaris. Isn't it great to know that our God is the ultimate Healer of ALL things? We'll be praying for you all through the next anxious months.
I was thinking the other day about what a prayerful little girl Aaris is and remembering your post about how she prays first for everything, like at the playground when she's hurt herself. Morgandy had fallen in the kitchen and I instantly remembered Aaris's example and prayed with Morgandy for her hurt. What a great example Aaris is.
I will definitely pray for Aaris and your whole family. I'm glad you see God working in all this scariness and pray that you continue to feel God's presence in all of this. Aaris is such a sweet, beautiful girl, and I'm so glad they found this out when they can treat it.
J, we're praying for you guys, and will be there for you if you need anything at all! Remember we're just right down the street, so don't you hesitate one second to call!
Sweet Aaris! She is in our prayers, and more importantly, she is in God's hands. Again, that children's song comes to mind, "Our God is so BIG so STRONG and so MIGHTY there's nothing our God cannot do, for YOU".
You are in our thoughts and prayers, daily, Jess. Aaris is such a sweet and beautiful child. I know that God will shine through all of this and continue to bless her and your wonderful family.
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