Hannah is looking more and more like a normal baby each and every day! She is smiling, playing, and silently laughing! She looks and acts just like she did before we brought her into the hospital, with the exception of a few tubes. Her heart rate climbed back into the 220s this morning, but only briefly. They gave her some fluids and it came right back down. They eased the ventilator some more today, so she’s getting 14 breaths per minute plus whatever she breathes on her own. They also decreased the pressure of the ventilator a little bit. They increased the amount of formula she receives by feeding tube to 24cc’s per hour. I have no idea how much that is in ounces. 😉 But regardless, she is eating more and getting more calories into her system. We spoke to one of the PICU doctors again today, and we think she will be listed for a heart transplant tomorrow. The other day, we spoke to a infectious disease doctor who really made us nervous about the whole transplant scenario. The PICU doctor was extremely encouraging, reaffirming to us that God is in control, and that being “on the list” doesn’t mean that we’re giving up hope. Everything will happen in God’s time. If God wants to heal her heart, than a transplant will not be available. If God wants to use a transplant, then the perfect heart will become available. He is going to work everything out in His perfect timing. So we choose not to worry about the route that He will take us on. God knows what is best for Hannah. We are anxious for nothing. We choose to stand firm in our faith, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is in control and will walk with us every step of the way.
Today, we realized that we have SO much to be thankful for. We are thankful that we got Hannah to the doctor and into the hospital when we did. We are thankful that we’ve been able to spend this past week with her. We are thankful that we’re even in the position to consider a heart transplant as an option. We are thankful that the hospital cafeteria was open on Christmas Day, and the King Buffet Chinese restaurant was open on Christmas night! We are so blessed to be able to live in a country where health care is readily available. Thank God for health insurance. Thank God for doctors and nurses who care so much about their patients and their families. Thank God for the prayers and support that we’ve received from all over the country. Thank God that He is going to heal our baby girl!
The cardiologist will be back in the morning to do another ultrasound of her heart. Please pray that he will be amazed by the improvement in Hannah’s ventricular function!