It is CHD awareness week and I’d like to share more of our story in hopes that it helps other parents going through something similar, and also that it encourages your heart as you read. ❤️

At our 20 week ultrasound, the doctor saw what she thought was “calcification” on the heart. The doctor recommended we have another appointment in 1 month, either with them or in Denver with the pediatric cardiologist. We chose to make an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist. She mentioned that there was a 1% chance it could be Down’s syndrome. I remember getting into the elevator afterwards with my husband and he said “I’m not worried.” I replied “I am. Your uncle has Down’s syndrome.” It was a long month of waiting, but we honestly were not too worried. We were chasing a toddler around and just assumed everything would be fine at our next appointment.

December 27th came and we went to the pediatric cardiologist. They took my husband, daughter and me into a room and the technician did the fetal echocardiogram. I remember trying to chat with him (I like to talk when I’m nervous) but he wasn’t very talkative. Looking back, I’m sure he didn’t want me to ask him any questions, as he was seeing the results of our baby’s heart before his eyes.

Our sweet 19 month old daughter was sitting on my husband’s lap, so quiet and calm. She was watching the echo (it was on a big screen) like it was Mickey Mouse.

Since the tech wasn’t talkative and Karalee was being so good, I took the opportunity to close my eyes and relax. I was in a partial sleep as I lay there, and all I could think about were boys names. I felt so at peace as I lay there, and also confident that this baby was a boy. We did not know the gender.

After a long echo they moved us into an exam room and the doctor came in to talk to us. He said that it looks like our baby has Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. This was not what I expected. I was in shock, trying to pay attention as he explained the anatomy of it all.

I was very familiar with the heart anatomy, it was always my favorite organ to learn about in school. It’s less fascinating and more terrifying when a doctor is explaining what’s wrong with your baby’s heart anatomy and the interventions that will be needed for him or her to live.

The diagnosis Hypoplastic Left Heart was not unfamiliar to me. I had been working as a medical assistant for 7 years, and 4 of those years with a pediatrician. We had a patient with HLHS, so this diagnosis was not completely new to my ears.

It was, and still is, a blessing to know this family. The mom of the boy with HLHS and I have become friends and being able to see him as an active elementary student gives me hope and joy! God went before me and prepared me for this journey; providing me an amazing pediatrician who knows us personally as well as another family in our town who can relate to the road we are walking down.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. The doctor told us that there were three surgeries our baby would need. One at 3-5 days old, one around 5 months, and the third surgery at age 3. The doctor was very confident in this process and I’m so thankful that the word abort was never uttered.

This picture was taken 3 days later in San Francisco, on a trip my husband had surprised me with for Christmas. Once again, God went before us. He knew that our raw and hurting hearts needed this time to process and just be together.

Conflict so often pulls relationships apart. I believe that is a part of the devil’s scheme. He wants to pull at our wounds, making them larger and more painful. Jesus wants to pour healing and redemption and goodness into our wounds. I am thankful for this time I had with my husband after receiving our baby’s diagnosis of HLHS.