Welcome To Our Blog

Welcome to our blog!! My reason for starting this blog is to keep friends and family updated on our precious Ava Caroline, who will be joining us in December, Lord willing. It is very exhausting telling the same information over and over again. I never mind people asking about Ava, but this will help keep our loved ones updated.

What we know at this point is that Ava has a complete Atrioventricular Canal defect and possible stenosis of the pulmonary artery. An AV Canal defect occurs when the chambers of the heart do not form properly, resulting in a very large hole in the center of her heart where the four chambers should meet. For a detailed explanation, click on this link http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site521/mainpageS521P0.html. There is also the possibility that Ava will have Down syndrome. This heart defect is very common in children with Downs.

We have made two trips to UAB and will make a third trip in four weeks for an update. On our last visit, we met with a Maternal/Fetal Medicine doctor, a Pediatric Cardiologist, a Genetic Counselor, and a member of the NICU staff. The doctors studied the details of her heart structures and functions and then we took a tour of the NICU.

The plan right now is for Ava to be born in Birmingham somewhere around December 15th. The best case scenario would be for her to be stable enough in the first week to come home and have several months to grow before surgery. Surgery at some point is a definite since she will essentially be in heart failure until her defects are corrected.

We are thankful for the blessing God has fearfully and wonderfully created!


Krystal