A Full Past 2 Weeks

In the midst of our most busy week this summer (running the conference for the Great Commission Council – more on that in our next email), the appointments for Kaleb continued last week. We had our third growth scan with Maternal Fetal Medicine. In the words of our doctor, "No news is good news." Kaleb continues to grow and his vitals still look good. We also got our first apartment application accepted! The Lord provides.

2nd Cardiologist Appointment

However, when we went in for our second visit with the cardiologist yesterday, we had a sobering visit. This visit they were able to get better images of his heart and a better understanding of what is going on. The doctor explained the condition of Kaleb's heart as "Unbalanced Atrioventricular Canal Variant" (along with a few additional problems).

Trying to not over simplify it, Children born with this condition have a hole in the septum wall between the heart's chambers. They also have problems with the valves that control blood flow in the heart, which is causing the leakage/backflow. This is all making his heart work harder, particularly his right side, causing the heart to become enlarged on the right side while the left ventricle, which sends oxygen rich blood into the body, is smaller and weaker. Our takeaway, there are a few likely outcomes for our boy:

• If he's doing poorly in 3-4 weeks he will probably need to be induced early and immediately treated.

• Whenever he's born he will most likely need to have at least one heart surgery

• He will most likely spend 4-8 weeks minimum in the NICU once born. 

This was a lot to take in, especially given our encouraging scan at MFM last week, but we were encouraged to hear this doctor has a couple connections with specialists at Boston Children’s Hospital. They are going to make the appropriate connections this week so they can be familiar with us, begin to make appointments, and possibly find us temporary housing in Boston to move sooner.

Moving Forward

In light of this news, we are going to seek a way to move to Boston by mid-August IF we can find temporary housing. We had received our first (and only) apartment application acceptance last week (one which we love), but the location of the apartment is farther from church community and hospitals than we think might be wise, now that we understand it’s almost certain Kaleb will be in the NICU for a while after birth. So, we're trying to find one closer before we have to sign the lease.

Honestly, this appointment was probably our hardest we've had so far. We had had so much encouraging news the week before, between our uneventful MFM visit, the apartment acceptance, and GCC gathering, this unexpected update from the cardiologist was difficult to take in. Brittany was particularly disheartened by the anticipation of having him in the NICU for so long. We spent a lot of yesterday soberly processing.

…BUT our Good Shepherd remains on His throne, does He not? He knows our weaknesses, our temptations, our struggles, and He does not willingly grieve the afflicted. He is leaning into us now, providing for us through Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. We know He has gone before us in Boston, ready to sustain and bless and care for us and our family. We have faith for the multitude of glorious ways He will use our momentary trial in the community of Trinity Cambridge Church, in our families' lives, in the medical personnel we will get to interact with along the way, and in our own hearts. These truths—this God—are our safe landing when it feels like everything has been tossed up into the air once again.

We Need Your Prayers.

We feel our need for your prayers more than ever before. And we are so deeply grateful. Here are specific ways you can pray:

1. Pray for God to heal our Kaleb! That his heart would be stable during this time. That the left side of his heart would strengthen and his right would heal, getting oxygen rich blood out into his body.

2. Pray for God to give us wisdom and peace as we seek to navigate many decisions about timing, location, doctors, caring for the kids, GCC, fundraising, etc. 

3. Pray most of all that God would guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus during this challenging season, and that we would fix our hearts on His steadfast love as we anticipate even more challenges in the near future. 

Next Appointment:

• Maternal Fetal Medicine Vitals Scan - Thursday, August 1 at 7:30am

If you click to give, please open the link below in a web browser. It will not work if you go through the church center app. If needed you can copy and past the link below the button.