Today we visited Kalyssa’s doctor’s office for a pediatric cardiology clinic held by Riley children’s hospital. A couple of weeks earlier we went to the same offices to have an echo performed. This is I think the fourth time Kalyssa has had one of those in her young life? Shortly before we brought her home from the NICU at about 6.5 weeks of age, we were told that she had more than one hole between the chamber walls of her heart. The hole between the ventrical, or lower chambers, healed up prior to one of her earlier echoes – which we were extremely thankful for because this was the area that caused the most concern for potential heart failure etc. And as recently as 9-10 months ago we were still under the impression that the hole between the upper chambers in her heart was large enough that they were still considering performing some sort of outpatient surgery to provide a patch of sorts.
I went to the visit today, prepared to hear the worst, but so thankful when the doctor stated that the hole was closing, that her heart appears to be naturalizing on its own, and that they no longer feel surgery will be needed!!!! They do want to see another echo in two years just to make sure that the process continues all the way, but she is to be treated in every way like a normal, healthy little girl. Hearing that was the answer to so many prayers – from me, and many family and friends as well. Thank you everyone for praying. Kalyssa is still a petite little girl. She’s likely to be even shorter than mommy. At today’s visit she weighed 25 lbs and was 33 inches tall.
Kalyssa has graduated from her physical therapy needs. I believe her last sessions of that were in June? Although we will miss Miss Sandy’s visits we are so thankful that she is now playing and doing things like any other 2 year old little girl. She is a little behind on language, but seems to learn more new words every day, and I have no doubt that she will soon want to catch up in order to play pretend better with her big sister, Brianna. Brianna is becoming a better big sister all the time. Now that she is older I think she appreciates that little sister is becoming a fun playmate and not just a bother, or an attention stealer for her mommy and daddy. Lately, she has begun to want to help me put her to bed, and even gives her hugs. (Kalyssa isn’t used to it yet and pushes her away LOL) Though Kalyssa willingly throws herself into mommy’s arms for hugs all the time now.
Kalyssa graduated to a toddler bed about a month ago. She’s starting to get the hang of it now, and I’m so thankful that for the most part she will still take an afternoon nap. (Brianna’s naps about disappeared once she could get out of bed on her own … as she was a lot more stubborn, and less patient than she is now.) I’ll try to find pictures soon to add to this post!
It’s been awhile since i’ve heard from Tad and came across your blog in an old email from him. Glad to hear Kalyssa is doing so well.