Gratitude Thread- 'tis the season

huguenot
Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:54:18 +0000

A great thread!

Here’s my Christmas gratitude post:

Here’s what happened: We are expecting another child and my OB’s Nurse Practitioner called Saturday afternoon and said that she was concerned that the heartrate on the ultrasound on our baby Friday was way too low and could I come to L&D for monitoring. At L&D it was quite arrhythmic and varying from low to normal. My doctor came in (though he wasn’t on call, God bless him) and looked at the ultrasound. He said it looked like it might be fetal heart block to him (which is very, very serious - 20% fatal, nearly all who survive have to have pacemakers inserted after birth). After watching it awhile, he put me in an ambulance and sent me to our regional medical center. Of course, during the very, very long ride I’m panicking since I can’t do any research and as if the baby weren’t enough to worry about, I’m just watching the dollar bills fly out the window with every mile (we have a $10,000 deductible =:-O ). So I decide I’d better start praying and leaving it with the Father!

Of course, when we get to the medical center, they immediately put the baby on a monitor and the heartbeat is normal. What?? But then the OB comes in and says the heartbeat is normal right then, but it looks on the ultrasound like the baby has a congenital heart defect and/or heart block. They decide to send me home and set me up with the Maternal-Fetal Medicine department for a fetal echocardiogram, which couldn’t be done on the weekend. I was soooo frustrated, because I wanted to know now what we were dealing with.

I did get some encouragement: when we pulled into the driveway, I checked the mail and there was an envelope with no return address. The Christmas card inside had no signature. It contained two Visa gift cards worth $500 each! I was stunned… “Before they ask, I will answer.” Amen!! Before I knew we’d have an additional financial need, the Lord spoke to someone (???) and told them to mail us $1000. Boy, did I ever need that love letter from the Lord and our anonymous friends to remind me that He knows our needs!

So… there I laid (I’m on bedrest), doing some very disturbing research - there didn’t seem to be a lot of good alternatives there… and praying, praying, praying that they would get me in for an echocardiogram asap. There was at least one condition that could be reversed if it is treated early enough (but the situation can change in one week from reversible to irreversible) and I was on pins and needles. Of course, they said, “It may take a few days to get in because of the holidays.” NOT what I wanted to hear!

Tuesday, the head of Pediatric Cardiology graciously came in when they were closed, along with his secretary and ultrasonagrapher to do an echocardiogram of our baby’s heart. They looked at every part of the heart and its function. What he found was that the baby’s heart is amazingly completely normal! The doctor said there was no heart defect and no heart block. There is no earthly explanation for what we saw over hours of observation Friday and Saturday (likely heart block or congenital heart defect) being completely absent, but we believe there is an explanation: God answers prayer!

We rejoice in the health of our unborn child, the love and prayers of our friends, and the mercy and love of our Father in heaven!

Of course, we’ll be carefully monitoring the baby for any signs of trouble - they are sending me a doptone to monitor the baby’s heart beat daily, - but at this time, all looks well!

We are so thankful for the Lord’s awesome work in our and our baby’s life!