Lub Click Whoosh Dub

Yesterday was Allisons' cardiology appointment at Primary Children's. After the usual height, weight, and other basic stuff, they covered her with stickers and plugged her into the EKG. Even though I knew that we were having these tests done to help her, it was still so hard to see so many wires attached to my baby.

The doctor came in afterward and listened to her heart. He said that something definitely wasn't right. My heart sunk. Instead of the normal "lub dub" sound of a healthy heart, Allisons goes "lub click whoosh dub". He told us he suspected a faulty heart valve and thought there was also a hole in her heart. He told us she would need an ultrasound, and said he would try and get us in for the test that day. We were on our way to the waiting room, bracing for a long, agonizing wait, when they thankfully called us right back.

They hooked her up to another EKG machine (after we had just ripped about 10 stickers from the last test from her sensitive little skin) and started an ultrasound. Two technicians were in the room, discussing the terms and acronyms I didn't recognize as they did the test. They were very focused and it was obvious they had found the problem, but didn't tell us what it was. They took pictures and measured and discussed for over an hour. We knew they were looking at her lungs and were so scared. They left the room to show the doctor the images and make sure there wasn't anything else he needed. While they were gone Cris told me that he was sure that one of her valves wasn't right from seeing it on the screen. From all of the measurements they took, we thought they gathering information for surgery.

The doctor met with us a short time later and explained the problem. Her pulmonary valve is very thick and isn't opening as it should. The heart is having to use more pressure than normal to get the blood to flow through, and the valve cups out as the blood flows past. He also thought that instead of the valve having three flaps that close, hers only has two.

However, her case is fairly mild. Right now there is no danger to her health. Often children grow and the problem never gets worse. If thats the case, she should have no restrictions and require no treatment. She will see the cardiologist every 3-4 months for the next 2 or 3 years to check the amount of pressure her heart is putting out. If it starts to require more pressure to pass the valve, they will either use a balloon to stretch the valve out, or do heart surgery. If it gets really bad, she will have a valve replacement. Right now, they don't want to do any treatment because it can cause leakage, and the risk would not outweigh the benefit. Luckily they did not find a hole in her heart - even one that the majority of babies have at her age.

He also said that the valve problem is commonly linked to two syndromes, one that effects the liver. It's something the cardiology team and our pediatrician will monitor, but right now, she shows no symptoms. If they start to see some of the physical characteristics on her face (like a very pointy chin) they will send us for genetic testing, but didn't think it was necessary.

So, unfortunately, there is a problem. Of course I wish they would have sent us home with a clean bill of health, but, if my baby has to have a heart problem, this one isn't comparable to some of the horrible problems other people have to go through. We are very thankful. Thankful for the good news, thankful we have caring doctors with amazing equipment, and thankful for a good outlook.