I'm back! (added baby pic)

She was born with critical pulmonary valve stenosis. It's not something they would see on a routine ultrasound, so we were very surprised because otherwise she looked so healthy. There is a neat little bypass babies have called the patent ductus arteriosis which gives them a 12-72 hour window in which the blood is rerouted (it's used in utero and closes off on its own after that). For us, it was just enough time for the doctor's to find the problem and stabilize her until they could fix it a couple of days later. Thank God! They ran a catheter up through her leg and popped the valve open with a balloon thingy. They say a lot of SIDS cases are probably caused by heart problems like this that were not detected. She has to have a valve replacement at age 15, but other than that, she is supposed to have an otherwise normal life, can play sports, etc.

Jared, are you an EMT?
 
Gotcha I understand completely.How did they detect her condition? If the worst she has to deal with is valve surgery at 15 she is very lucky.

I'm a Paramedic.
 
She was gradually turning blue. The pediatrician made his rounds very early that morning and he could hear the murmur very loudly too. Her O2 sats were around 70% when he checked her and hit 55% by the time the transport team from Columbus, OH arrived. Several states have passed laws that all newborns must be hooked up to a pulse-ox for screening before being discharged. Such a cheap and simple test that could so easily save a little life! It's currently law in WV, but not in OH at this time...she was born in OH.
 
Gotcha. Were her issues immediately after birth? I'm impressed she tolerated her sats that low. Those are LOW!!
 
Awww... she is so beautiful! Those are some sweet sweet eyes. You're a lucky mama!
 
Thanks everyone. :)

So Lucky, I guess it isn't too uncommon. A baby girl down the road from us, one year old now, had it too, but a little different on the complications. She had to have open-heart surgery for hers. She is doing great now though.

Jared77, I only had her with me for 6 hours and they had to swoop her away. That was soooo hard. My husband rode up in the ambulance with her and I was all by myself. :hit Can't believe how much we came through and what a haze it was going from one thing to the next. Really, you do just put one foot in front of the other. Feeling so blessed in the here and now just reflecting on it.
 
You just do the best that you can, Journey . . .

. . . and LOOK at those fingers!

I'm a fingers man myself.

digitS'
 
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