We are in the preliminary stages of discovering exactly how unique is our little Presley's heart. She had her first visit with our cardiologist a few weeks ago. Based on the echocardiogram, the initial diagnosis is . . .
Complete AV Canal: A large hole in center of the heart affecting all four chambers where they would normally be divided. When a heart is properly divided, the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs does not mix with the oxygen-poor blood from the body. A CAVC allows blood to mix and the chambers and valves to not properly route the blood to each station of circulation.
Double Outlet Right Ventricle: The aorta connects to the right ventricle (the chamber of the heart that pumps blood to the lungs), instead of to the left ventricle (the chamber that normally pumps blood to the body). Both the pulmonary artery (which carries oxygen-poor blood to the lungs) and aorta (which carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body) come from the same pumping chamber. No arteries are connected to the left ventricle (the chamber that normally pumps blood to the body).
Pulmonary Atresia: The word "atresia" means "no opening." With pulmonary atresia, the valve that lets blood flow from the lower-right chamber (the right ventricle) to the lungs has not formed or is closed. Instead of following the normal route through the lungs, oxygen-poor blood travels directly from the upper-right chamber (the right atrium) to the left side of the heart. This oxygen-poor blood is then pumped back into the body. The lack of oxygen-rich blood makes the fingers, toes, and lips appear blue, a condition called cyanosis.
Although this information is a lot to take in, none of it was surprising. It actually revealed that the report from China was accurate. However, the specifics of Presley's anatomy cannot fully be known until she has a . . .
Heart Catheterization: A procedure used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions. During cardiac catheterization, a long thin tube called a catheter is inserted in an artery or vein in your groin, neck or arm and threaded through your blood vessels to your heart.
This is scheduled to take place in exactly one month. Presley will go under anesthesia in the hospital, and our doctor said the cath should take approximately 3 hours. It is meant to be an outpatient procedure, and she should be able to go home later that day. But depending on how Presley handles everything she may need to spend the night. We are praying fervently for our precious girl! Presley loves to pray!!!
The results of the heart cath will give us more detailed insight into the intricacies of Presley's heart. And this will hopefully and prayerfully lead to surgery possibilities. A big question about whether or not Presley has two ventricles has already been answered from the echo. She does in fact have two good sized ventricles that are pumping well. This could be good news if she is a candidate for a full repair. However, being that she has no interatrial septum (the wall of tissue that separates the right and left atria) a full repair may be extremely difficult or impossible. There may also be other possible surgical options to make her heart as functional as possible for as long as possible.
We know that our precious girl is in her Father's hands, and He knows the plan! We trust Him completely! Since we have been down the hospital/surgery road a time or two, we know it will be so hard to watch our baby suffer. We love our little Presley so very much, and yet God loves her even more! His will be done in her life, and may His name be praised no matter what!
"I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever."
Psalm 86:12
