Weekly update

First of all, we want to send out a huge thank you to everyone who has called, posted a comment to the blog, or e-mailed with their prayers and support. You have no idea how much easier that makes it for us!

At the appointment last week with Dr. Liske, he came up with a gestational age that was 36 weeks rather than 33 weeks. He wasn't terribly concerned about it, in part because it is hard to determine a gestational age this late in a pregnancy, but wants to make sure we are dating this baby as accurately as possible. So, on July 18, we're doing an ultrasound to help clear up the confusion. Dr. Liske was only able to get a head measurement, and they usually use several body measurements when they determine gestational age. I am measuring right on target at the OB's office each visit, so I'm not overly concerned about this, but clearly if we're comparing Liam's heart measurements to the wrong chart, we need to know that. It would make a difference in terms of whether or not he has HLHS since he's borderline for it right now.

I need to clarify something from last Thursday's post: Shone's Syndrome is used to describe a series of problems with the LEFT side of a baby's heart. I didn't specify that it only affects the left side last week. A baby with Shone's doesn't face as severe a situation as a baby with HLHS, but the problems remain serious and similar in terms of the structures within the heart that are affected.

This week's prayer requests:

1. PRAISE that we are having Liam at a time in medicine when so much is known about how to treat his problems. Just a scant twenty years ago, Liam would have been released from the hospital with everyone thinking he was a healthy newborn and would have died within the first week or two of life, probably termed death by SIDS.
2. PRAISE that we are blessed with Dr. Spetalnick and Dr. Liske, who work well together as a team and are even willing to communicate between appointments via phone or e-mail to answer our 10,000 annoying questions.
3. PRAISE that Liam cooperated and was in a good position for Dr. Liske to see his heart clearly.
4. For complete healing for our son during this pregnancy (we continue to ask for the moon since God made it anyway!).
5. For strength, guidance, and wisdom as we face treatment choices and decisions.
6. For good physical health and restful sleep for Bill and Lisa.
7. For God to show us the way financially so we can provide the best medical care for our son.
8. For the strength to let this child go home to God if it becomes obvious that this is God’s answer to our prayers.

To our Maple Hill church family: You have blessed us tremendously with your constant outpouring of support and offers of help in the coming months. Words simply do not exist that would adequately allow us to express our thanks to each of you.

Lisa

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18