PDA ... Does Not Mean Public Display of Affection ...

Well, it looks like we're taking a trip to Gainesville, FL sometime in the very near future. Too bad it won't be for a sporting event!

Joshua's doctor called asked if we could bring him in.... TODAY. Since when do specialists call and want to see you, now?

We arrived, they did his O2 stats in all extremities. Then they gave us the results of the cardiac MRI. He has an added diagnosis of Patent Ductus Arteriosus, or PDA.

You can read about it here, http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/350577-overview.

Basically, to keep it short and sweet, all infants are born with this. After 2-3 hours, it closes on it's own. It's a bypass in utero for the blood since the baby gets O2 from the placenta. Josh's didn't close on it's own and while at MU, they administered meds to make it close. Which it did.

Well, it's popped back open. Not sure how long it's been this way.

The defect connects the aorta with the pulmonary artery, allowing oxygen-rich blood from the aorta to mix with oxygen-poor blood in the pulmonary artery which means he does not have good oxygenated blood throughout his body.

Which explains a lot. Like why he has gray feet all the time, and his varicose veins, his attention span issues, and fatigue, and poor ability to exercise.

And most of all his pulmonary hypertension. Which the doc said today is "severe."

He also used words like "this is major" and "I have already sent his file overnight to UF" and "will definitely need a heart cath."

So... once again we wait and see what the next doctor is going to say. I'm thankful for our cardiologist here, Dr. J. He has his little quirks, but he is extremely thorough and was not going to stop until he had an answer. In fact, the radiologist missed the PDA. Dr. J asked for the pics from the MRI and he saw it himself. So... for that I'm thankful he has his quirks.

I ask you to please keep us all in your prayers. Josh has a great attitude about this. I know him though and in a couple days it will start to sink in.

I am going to trust in my God who already knew all this was going to happen. This is not a surprise to Him. He will lift me up when I am weak and walk beside us the whole way.