Today we had an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist at UAB. I quickly updated him on all that was going on with our little sunshine and he wasted no time in starting an Echo cardiogram. It's kind of like an ultrasound where he looks at the heart, aortas and surrounding areas.
Praise the Lord, he said the internal structure of Marlee's heart was perfect! I explained a little about what we were told in regards to her right subclavian artery and aortic arch so he started looking at the external structure.
He said that Marlee possibly has a vascular ring. "A vascular ring occurs when the aorta (the large artery that carries
oxygenated blood out of the heart) or its branches form a complete ring
around the trachea (the tube that carries air to the lungs) and the
esophagus (the tube that carries food to the stomach). (All of these
structures are very close to one another in this crowded area of the
chest.) This happens when certain parts of the aorta, which normally
disappear during fetal development, persist abnormally." (The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) You can go here to learn more. It amazes me how some of the symptoms of a vascular ring are the same things Marlee has been dealing with.
The cardiologists wants to talk to our ENT and also his surgical team to see how much of an intrusion is being placed on her esophagus and trachea and to see if they think surgery will be required to fix the problem.
So we wait to hear back from him.
She has her 6 month check up tomorrow. Can't wait to hear what our pediatrician says. I am so so so thankful for our pediatrician! If he had not listened to my mommy "gut feelings" a few months ago, we might not have known any of this. I am so very thankful he has been an advocate for her and will continue to be! I know not all pediatricians are like that.
Thank you again for praying today! Love you all!!
Love,
~A
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