Day 1 - Welcome to Cincinnati Childrens Hospital
Our day started early, we boarded the shuttle for the short trip to the Cincinnati Childrens Hospital. We arrived a few minutes early and we were met by a nurse who escorted us upstairs to the Fetal Care Center for the beginning of many tests.
The first test was another ultrasound where they took extensive measurements of both babies. This was a humorous time because our larger baby was very active and moving around. When it came time for measurements for his brother, he kept getting in the way, sticking a hand or a foot in the picture. The nurse was amused by this also, all three of us had a good laugh.
After the ultrasound, we went upstairs to cardiology where they were going to do an echocardiogram on the hearts of both babies. I sat there thinking about how God allowed me to live, when my parents were told that I would not make it (I was born 3 months premature). I asked God if it were possible for these boys to defy the odds as well and overcome these health problems. After the echocardiogram, I was not sure if I could deal with anymore bad news. We already were dealing with the initial diagnosis of TTTS, but any heart abnormality in addition to this would probably push me over the edge. The cardiologist came and in said that he did not find any abnormalities in either twin, but that the larger twin had a slight amount of valve leakage which he referred to as "trivial". So instead of bad news, we got some good news.
We had a short break for about 25 mins and went outside to see if we needed to contact anyone, we made a couple of calls and then headed back inside for the MRI. The radiologist came in and talked with us about the procedure and answered our questions. We had to wait a little while because they were running behind. If you have never had an MRI before, it is an experience to say the least. I will summarize it by saying two words: loud and long. I was able to sit in the room while my wife was undergoing the MRI itself.
After the MRI, we went upstairs for a meeting with a genetic counselor, who took our family histories and discussed the different stages of TTTS and the various treatment options. We were not able to meet with the Dr because he had gone home ill. That meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday in the afternoon.
We finally concluded our day at almost 5:30pm and we were tired. My in-laws had arrived and we all went back to the hotel to regroup and then find somewhere to eat dinner.
The first test was another ultrasound where they took extensive measurements of both babies. This was a humorous time because our larger baby was very active and moving around. When it came time for measurements for his brother, he kept getting in the way, sticking a hand or a foot in the picture. The nurse was amused by this also, all three of us had a good laugh.
After the ultrasound, we went upstairs to cardiology where they were going to do an echocardiogram on the hearts of both babies. I sat there thinking about how God allowed me to live, when my parents were told that I would not make it (I was born 3 months premature). I asked God if it were possible for these boys to defy the odds as well and overcome these health problems. After the echocardiogram, I was not sure if I could deal with anymore bad news. We already were dealing with the initial diagnosis of TTTS, but any heart abnormality in addition to this would probably push me over the edge. The cardiologist came and in said that he did not find any abnormalities in either twin, but that the larger twin had a slight amount of valve leakage which he referred to as "trivial". So instead of bad news, we got some good news.
We had a short break for about 25 mins and went outside to see if we needed to contact anyone, we made a couple of calls and then headed back inside for the MRI. The radiologist came in and talked with us about the procedure and answered our questions. We had to wait a little while because they were running behind. If you have never had an MRI before, it is an experience to say the least. I will summarize it by saying two words: loud and long. I was able to sit in the room while my wife was undergoing the MRI itself.
After the MRI, we went upstairs for a meeting with a genetic counselor, who took our family histories and discussed the different stages of TTTS and the various treatment options. We were not able to meet with the Dr because he had gone home ill. That meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday in the afternoon.
We finally concluded our day at almost 5:30pm and we were tired. My in-laws had arrived and we all went back to the hotel to regroup and then find somewhere to eat dinner.
posted by Terry Lange at 12:41 PM
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