It has taken me a few days to post this...party because I was having trouble with the babyjellybeans site and partly because I am still in shock at the results. We got an email on Sunday that said Brea's biopsy had been read and was graded as a "1A". Her past biopsies have all been zeros and this really took us by surprise. It is our understanding that a 1A means mild rejection was detected in the samples of the heart muscle that were removed during the biopsy. Brea's transplant cardiologist at Duke says that nothing needs to be done at this point. He had told us before the biopsy that some pathologist will give a biopsy a grade of zero and another pathologist looking at the same biopsy would give it a 1 simply as a matter of opinion. That doesn't make me feel any better about the results...I really wanted to hear that it was a zero. It will be another 9 months before she has another biopsy so for the next nine months I will be praying that the pathologist was wrong and that her next biopsy will be a grade zero. We are going to Little Rock in April for Brea's one year post transplant check up at Arkansas Children's Hospital and I think I will feel a lot better once the transplant team there sees her. Looking at Brea you would never know what she has been through and it is hard to imagine that her little body could ever reject her heart. She is as busy as any two year old I've ever known and she is into absolutely everything.
PLEASE continue to pray for Brea's little body to accept her heart as its own. I am so thankful that I have my faith to get me through times like these. I know without a doubt that as much as Danny and I love Brea, God loves her even more and He is holding her in the palm of His mighty hand. I keep reminding myself that the person reading the biopsy is just a man (or possibly a woman) and we were told that the difference between a "0" and a "1" could just be the pathologist that reads the biopsy. But I also keep remembering the conversation we had with the transplant team shortly after Brea's transplant where they told us that she would at some point have rejection. The good news is that it can be treated (in most cases). It is going to be a LONG nine months before we get another biopsy so I am going to stay focused on God's words from Jerimiah..." For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
On a positive note...we were told that the first year after a heart transplant is the hardest/scariest. The greatest chance of serious rejection is within the first six months to one year. Brea is approaching the one year anniversary of her transplant (3/31/07) and that is a BIG deal! But as that special anniversary approaches I am also reminded of a mother who is dreading that day. Please keep Brea's donor's mother in your prayers as well if you don't mind. She is a special woman and I cannot begin to imagine how difficult this first anniversary is going to be for her. Every single day I thank God for the blessing He has given us in our children and every single day I remind myself just how precious and fragile life is...don't take it for granted.
Hugs,
Mary
|
 |
|
|
|
