Since the last journal entry, we’ve had more doctors appts that included echos of Sophie’s heart, biophysical exams and ultrasounds. Seems like I’ve been having at least one appt. a week for this or that. We recently visited Omaha again for an echo and ultrasound so the doctors there could have the most up to date imaging before birth and so they can have a tentative plan of when they want to do a cath procedure or surgery after birth. 

Omaha said that right now Sophie is an in-between case of going down the 3 step surgery path for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) or trying to salvage the left ventricle by doing a bi-ventricular repair. The reason why this is is because she doesn’t have as small of a left ventricle as other HLHS cases, and that good! She has more blood going through that LV than other cases too! It’s just not contracting as it should be and there’s some muscle scarring at the apex of the LV.  

They can’t say one surgery path over another until after she’s born and they can do better imaging of her heart. Also, things can change after birth too with the circulation of blood in her heart. There’s no way of knowing which is the better surgery path at this time but we just pray that the doctors will make the right recommendation based off clear imaging.

One other update is that we’ll be going to Omaha to be induced one day earlier: the evening of October 28th instead of the 29th. The doctors want to make sure Sophie is born during the week to have all the necessary staff they would need for whatever surgery path they decide to go down.

Thank you again for all your prayers and we’re excited to share pics and updates of our little Sophie Belle when she gets here! They except her to be about 7.5lbs at birth. Keep growing girly!