Enoch's Cardiology Visit

Enoch had his cardiology check up yesterday. We were supposed to see cardio once a year from birth but having only catastrophic insurance coverage for so many years, we couldn't afford to go. Finally, this year with good insurance, we've been able to have Enoch seen for all his needs.

We were told at his last visit, when he was 18 months old, that he had a long mitral valve in his heart. Turns out, that isn't what he has at all. The two muscles that open and close his little mitral valve are closer than they are supposed to be, not causing any issues right now. Also, he has a hole or a "cleft" in that same valve. It is not leaking so the Cardiologist wasn't even sure that it was a hole. Since the echo images slice through the cross sections of the heart, they weren't able to see clearly if it was a hole or a cleft. Its not leaking though and that's all that matters to us right now.

We also found out, (totally new info to us and the hospital), that Enoch has a persistent left superior vena cava. The superior vena cava is the main artery that drains the blood from your head, it runs down the right side. Enoch has that and he has one on the left side as well. When we all develop in the womb, we all have a right and a left SVC, and the left side eventually goes away. With Enoch, it just decided to stick around I guess. It drains where it's supposed to and it causes no problems and shouldn't pose any future problems according to the cardiologist.
Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a relatively rare congenital venous anomaly occurring in approximately 0.3% to 0.5% of the normal population and 3% to 10% of patients with congenital heart disease. So naturally, Enoch would be in the higher percentage rate of having something as odd as a PLSVC because of his VACTERL association and heart defects.

Enoch is seriously just so special from top to bottom. And quite honestly, we have been so blessed with his situation. The severity level of his issues are so small compared to most kids diagnosed with VACTERL. I can't tell you how grateful we are for the blessings he has received throughout his journey. He is a beautiful little boy with an amazingly strong spirit.
I know that Enoch was aware in the pre-existence what trials he would have to experience here on this earth and I know that he enthusiastically accepted the challenges.
Throughout all of these adventures with Enoch, my testimony in priesthood blessings has just blossomed. I'm so grateful to have the priesthood in our home and that we are able to utilize it often. It's such a huge, huge blessing.
Sometimes it's been an exhausting and trying journey but in the end, it's all worth it. Every second of it.

Here are just a few photos from our visit yesterday.

Checking out the fish tank in the cardio waiting room. Their fish tanks at Children's are so fun!

First up was his echocardiogram. The tech that performed it also performed his 18 month one. Ha! He didn't need any loopy juice, he laid pretty still the whole time and watched Rio. Pretty cool!
His face is pretty priceless here!

And then we had the EKG. Seriously, the longest part of this procedure was putting the ten stickers on. She put the stickers on, hooked up the cords, flipped the switch and we were done! He said he felt like Astro Boy. I told him he LOOKED like Astro Boy. That made him pretty happy.
Enoch of course kept all the stickers. They are currently all over the house.

A blast from the past! Photos from his first cardio visit. He was so chubby!!