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Lorena's Heart

December 15, 2010

And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8 :28

Dear Family & Friends,

Before this year 2010 is over I want to send out a small update. I waited for this day hoping
I could send out more good news about Lorena. Today we had the cardiology appointment with
Lorena. It was our hope and prayer that the hole in her hear may have grown closed. On our
last appointment about 1 1/2 years ago we were told the hole had gotten smaller to just
3mm and no surgery would be needed.

Today we were sorely disappointed to hear that the ultra sound showed that the hole was still
6mm and therefore Lorena will need to have heart surgery. It struck us like lightning as it was
totally unexpected as we had not even thought of that possibility any more. It is difficult to hear
this.

As it stands Lorena will need corrective heart surgery to close that hole in her heart or she will
be at high risk of getting a stroke or heart attack or other hear complications as a very young adult.
This surgery would need to be done up in Edmonton (3 hours north).

We were told that there are 2 different surgeries for closing this hole in her heart.

1. The prefered choice, is that they put in an amplatzer plug. This surgery is done by taking a
Amplatzer (type of mesh plug) that they put in by going through her femoral vain from by her
leg all the way up into the heart to place this plug. This would be less invasive and leave very
little scar. Like all surgeries this has its own risks. This method is newer and the 1st of these
procedures were done about 20 years ago. This procedure can not be done on large holes but
Lorena's is considered to be a medium hole. Before this procedure can be done Lorena would
have to go in and have some sort of camera like device put in through her throat
(under anesthesia) to see if it this type of surgery would work in her case. If all goes well
then this surgery would mean Lorena would be in the hospital just 1 to 2 days.

For those who want to read more about this procedure there is more info here:

http://international.amplatzer.com/international_products/asd_device/how_your_doctor_
will_implant_the_septal_occluder/tabid/508/default.aspx

2. The other choice is open heart surgery. Lorena's chest would be cut open to perform this surgery. Which has many risks and will leave Lorena with more pain and a longer harder
recovery. If this surgery goes well it would mean about 1 week in the hospital for Lorena.

Of-course we are still hoping and praying for a miracle that the hole in her heart would still
close even though the cardiologist said there would be a very slim chance of this happening
now. But if that is not the case then we hope and pray that Lorena will not need the open
heart surgery but rather that it will be possible to have the 1st type of surgery. Please
pray with us that Lorena will not need the open heart surgery.

Besides this last news Lorena has been doing well. She is eating more but still is a
very, very picky eater but she is growing better then before.

She is a very active little girl and seems to have lots of energy.
We are so thankful for Lorena and the joy she also brings to our family.

We want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Lodewyk, Rena, Janita, Jeremy & Lorena