time for another cath...

Maddie had a cardiology check-up on Monday. It was a full work up which was bumped up a couple of months due to her sats declining over the summer. Back in May, she was satting 90-92 and on Monday, her O2 sats read 84%. Though she still has a fenestrated Fontan (hole created to help give blood flow an alternate route due to pressures, which creates some mixing of O2 rich/poor blood) her sats shouldn't be this low now with her physiology. So, Dr. Chun and Dr. Johnston discussed her crummy echo pics and decided she needs to go to the cath lab to figure this one out since nothing could be determined by echo. We have a few hunches: collateral vessels again, her Pulmonary Arteries may be narrowing back down again, or her conduit may have an issue where it's sewed to her own anatomy. To be entirely honest, I hadn't worried much or had that "feeling" going into this appointment. I've noticed her more winded, a tinge bluer and she comments frequently that her breath hurts but being passed the Fontan, I don't worry about it like I used to and overall, she's been about the same energy wise. I'm glad her doctor is pro-active and wants to get a handle on this. We're grateful for their wisdom and how much they care for our daughter and her well-being.

Our plates are very full right now and I wasn't expecting this. Bryan's dad is terminal with cancer, he's declined rapidly the last few weeks and going through this experience has consumed us. It's been a roller coaster and thank God for our family and friends who've helped along the way. Watching someone you love go through this process is agonizing.

But one thing I've learned over these past four years with Maddie is to rely on His strength, His timing and rest in the peace that God has this one covered. When life is heavy and we feel beat down from what we're going through, He is there. Always. What a comfort this brings in times like these.