A Healing Heart

Ella is wireless! No more tubes, cords, or lines. No more oxygen. No more monitors. Now we can pick her up and hold her and move her around the room easily. This morning we took her down to the first floor where she had an x-ray and an echo ultrasound of her heart. Although her heart is still a bit swollen from the repairs, it is working well! Her valves are leaking a little blood, but the doctor said it was "trivial regurgitation." Also there is a small hole in the bottom of her heart that was not reparied in surgery, and this should heal on its own as Ella grows. The main part of her heart that our cardiologist in GR will continue to monitor is the repair of the coarctation of the aorta. This main vessel was enlarged, but could change as she grows. Because of the good tests, and because she is now wireless, Ella will go home soon!!!! The last thing her nurse practitioner needs to see is that she is gaining weight. She is currently under her birth weight. We are mixing powdered formula into my breast milk so she gets more calories each feed time. She still sleeps a lot and gets tired easily. But, she is a healthy little girl, and we are eager to take her home soon!