January 22nd - Update on Baby Devin

  Sorry it’s been SO long since we’ve been able to update you on Devin.  We thought we’d wait until after our next appointment…but then we would have another appointment, and then another.  So, here is what we know as of now.

  Since our last update, we have met with our new cardiologist at Dallas Children’s Hospital twice.  We really love her, and her staff.  We have felt so much peace, and just reassurance in being there.  We are so grateful to be so close to such an amazingly talented group of people who will do everything they can to give Devin the best chance at life!

  At our last Cardiology appointment, they did another fetal echo of our little man's heart, and confirmed again his diagnosis of HLHS, but then also let us know that along with that he has another issue within the part of his heart that is “working”.  There is a small hole that needs to stay open to help circulate oxygenated blood after he is born.  However, what is normally open for most babies with HLHS, in Devin’s heart is about the size of a pin-hole.  The doctor has concern that the opening may close completely before he is born, so they are keeping an eye on it through additional fetal echo-gram appointments.  If it indeed stays open a pin-hole in size, or closes completely, Devin would need to be rushed straight from delivery to have a procedure to burn that hole open to allow oxygenated blood to flow throughout the body and to the organs.  This would later be followed by an open chest procedure to band certain tubes so the flow would not flood his lungs, but offer a consistent stream.  This makes an already hard situation more complicated and would also delay his first heart surgery (the Norwood) by a month.  Because of the added procedures, it would significantly increase the amount of time Devin would be in the hospital from weeks, to months.

  So, while they do not expect the hole to open on its own, we are asking you to pray with us that it would miraculously open so that he could completely avoid the first 2 procedures before his heart surgery.  This might also allow us to spend some time with him post-delivery, instead of him being rushed out right away to surgery.  Pray that this small opening would miraculously grow larger, not smaller, and the doctors would be amazed, and the Lord would receive the glory!

  We know that no matter what transpires, the Lord’s hand is in all of this, and none of this is a surprise to Him.  We take comfort in knowing He is the one who has allowed these gifted nurses, doctors, and surgeons to do what they do so well, and we marvel in that!

Thank you all for your continued love and support though all of this. We have received so many letters, cards, notes of encouragement, and texts from people just letting us know they are praying, and we feel it!

                Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. - Eph. 3:20-21