Cardiology Appointment

Yesterday Hope had another cardiology appointment and I can tell you it was one of the hardest.  We were there for over four hours because Dr. Prieto was so backed up in her appointments.  We started the day with weight and measurements.  She always does pretty good with these and has been gaining and her pulse ox and blood pressure is good.  After that our day of craziness began.  I am not usually a complainer, but yesterday I just felt it really necessary to state my opinion to many people in the office.  The echo was trying to say the least.  There is a fellow (cardiology student) that started doing her echo.  She did fine for about ten minutes.  Then she and I both started to get irritable.  After an hour, I put my foot down.  She literally cried for an hour straight.  I don't let her cry at home for more than one or two minutes and an hour seemed absolutely ridiculous to me.  I know that people need to learn and Hope has a different anatomy, so she is a good training case.  They did that in the hospital a lot and it didn't bother me one bit.  But...when my daughter is obviously in pain...I draw a line.  I spoke with Dr. Prieto about my concerns and I am hoping my suggestions will be taken seriously.  I suggested that the regular echo tech take the pictures that are necessary for Dr. Prieto as soon as we get in the room.  After that, if Hope is still in a decent mood, I don't mind people using her for training.  But...when they spent all that time training the new guy and still didn't get a good picture of her pulmonary artery...that is not good.  I am now off my soapbox...sorry, but it really was hard on my mentally to see Hope crying that much.

No talk of her Glenn and Dr. Prieto likes how she is gaining and how well her oxygen saturation is looking.  She is usually in the high 70s and she thinks we can hold off on the heart catherization until her sats stay in the mid 70s consistently.  Hope is also getting over her cold...at least it seems that way to me.  Her nose is not nearly as congested and her coughing is not too bad anymore.  I am so glad that she didn't get any sicker and I know that God is definitely looking out for her.

Here is another poem Stephanie wrote and it reveals my feelings much better than I could ever write them:

My fingers run along the line
Upon my daughter's chest
I ask her then
"Who loves you"?
Why mommy loves you best

"Do you know your brave and strong"?
"And hope shines in your eyes"..
Do you know each day with you...
Is like a new sunrise?

I wonder if you understand...
Just how you've changed my heart..
My prayer to God will always be...
"Don't ever let us ever part".

Do you know...sweet daughter of mine...
How very loved you are?
I could search for all my lfe...
But I need not look far.

For beauty rests within my midst...
In the heart of one small girl...
You've overcome so very much...
And live each day with joy.

Who loves you most I ask again...
A whisper...in her ear....
Life has few sweet moments when...
Things seem so very clear.

Why mommy loves you silly girl...
She thinks you are the best...
You laugh at me in answer...
I know that I am blessed.

~Stephanie Husted

Thank you for keeping our family in your thoughts and prayers.  We really appreciate it and know that God has been hearing and answering our prayers.