CHOP News!

I know most are getting our amazing news through word of mouth or other forms of prayer up-dates, but I thought I'd make an "official" post of our trip to Philly.

Eric and I left at 4:45 A.M. in the hopes of avoiding the Schuylkill Expressway, famous for back-ups. Our plan failed as it still took us an hour to travel 13 miles! And we were 15 minutes late for our appointment. Thankfully the staff at the hospital were gracious and took us anyway.

Turned out to be a "GREAT" choice for them, because not only did we take half the allotted time, they were able to give out some "GREAT" news!! Which is something I don't believe the doctors at CHOP get to do very often. The equipment at CHOP was amazing - I was able to see Baby's heart valves click open and shut with such perfect detail! The ultrasound tech would zoom in on a few things and I would explain to Eric - having already been through 2-3 echo cardiograms of the heart - what she was looking at and what Dr. Hole had originally been perplexed by. The technician would just say, "I don't see that anymore." or "I don't think that is a problem." or something to that extent. I would ask about several items I knew were concerns, and each thing she would check off of the list with an unofficial "ok" or state "Yeah, I read that in the report, but I'm not seeing it here."

It didn't take long before she stated, "I think you have a little miracle here!" I was speechless and brought to tears. She didn't believe our consult with the team of doctors would be more than 5-10 minutes. What!! Really?? After she left to speak with the doctors, who were in a separate room evaluating the technicians pictures of the heart, Eric said, "That's what I was expecting!" Some faith I had! I was still bracing myself for news of a very sick baby and a long journey to recovery; full of wires, monitors and surgeries.

The CHOP doctors met us in a room with tissues on the table - provided for the usual news they must give to families. The three ladies were all smiles as they entered. We were informed that our miracle baby did not need further specialized evaluation. They found nothing that was of concern to them. Our baby was, in all reality, healthy and normal!

So we have been released from CHOP with a clean bill of health. We have yet to hear from the MFM (Maternal Fetal Medicine) doctors in Gettysburg/York. Maybe they will just want to have a look for themselves! However, they will (or have been) sent a full report with pictures for proof. Doctors first diagnosed our baby as having chromosomal and genetic defects, which are beyond the doctor's reach for correction. Then they said it was hydrops fetalis. Now they say it must have been a virus. Maybe it was all three! I'm just fine with not knowing the answers to the many questions of "why?" or "how?"

I'd love to have a "photo" copy of this baby's miraculous comeback. Eric and I have been able to view it first hand through ultrasound technology. Wish I could have a picture of God's actual hand doing the work! But I don't have to have that photo to believe it and know it is true.