Tetralogy of Fallot
te·tral·o·gy of Fal·lot | \ te-ˈtral-ə-jē-əv-fä-ˈlō
Medical Definition: a congenital abnormality of the heart characterized by pulmonary stenosis, an opening in the interventricular septum, malposition of the aorta over both ventricles, and hypertrophy of the right ventricle.
I wasn’t aware of a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) until this past August when Andrea, due in December with baby girl number two, had a level two ultrasound and they discovered that baby has this rare condition. Even more rare is that she also has an absent pulmonary valve (APV), which happens in only two percent of TOF cases. Each case of TOF/APV is different - as such there are a lot of unknowns in utero, post-delivery and beyond. What we do know is that baby will require open heart surgery, a lengthy hospital stay and extensive medical care. Reading and understanding all the information is like taking a sip from a fire hose – while I didn’t see the importance of retaining the material back then, I now wish I would have paid closer attention to the heart unit in my human biology classes.
Andrea and Seth have named baby girl, Fiona Hope. Hope, because through all this there is HOPE! They have chosen to share her name now instead of waiting until birth so she can be prayed for by name. Nothing is impossible for God’s untold power, so we pray for miracle healing and strength for sweet Fiona every day. We also know that God may not choose to heal her, but we trust He knows what is best for her. And He is still good! Fiona has already touched many lives and is loved by so many, especially Andrea and Seth, whom God has entrusted as her earthly parents – a pretty great choice if you ask me!
We are excited to meet Fiona in six short weeks. She is a fighter and other than her heart, she is growing as she should be. She is currently in the fiftieth percentile at 4.5 pounds. Andrea and Seth have seen her playing with her fingers and toes!
We are indebted to those who have offered an outpouring of prayers, love and support – friends, family, extended family, friends of extended family and friends of friends. To be witness to this is beyond humbling. Keep them coming! No one fights alone!
Below is a link to a GoFundMe that has been created on their behalf to help with all the unexpected medical expenses. If you feel inclined to donate, thank you!
https://gofund.me/06afb596 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is your everlasting strength - Isaiah 26:4
XOXO Mary
