Wednesday, March 5, 2008

News

Well, we have mixed feelings about the MRI results today. The cardiac MRI showed no damage to the heart muscle, so that's a good thing. It did show the heart function as being a little better than the Echo has been showing. However, its a different type of "looking" with the MRI as opposed to the Echo. They did do another Echo today to check for improvement but we haven't heard the results yet.

The head MRI showed more disturbing news. Sometime in the last 2 to 14 days Julianne had a stroke in the left occipital lobe of her brain. As you can imagine, we were heart broken to hear this news. In all likelihood, Julianne's stroke was caused by a blood clot cutting off flow to that area of the brain. Due to the stroke Julianne's surgery for tomorrow has been postponed. Its too risky to put her on the heart/lung bypass machine and give her the amount of Heparin (blood thinnner) necessary to be on bypass. Its also more risky because of the way the blood flow pattern changes with the Glenn surgery and how that could affect the damaged tissue in Julianne's brain. The Neurologists are going to be speaking with the stroke experts in the next few days to discuss when it would be safer to do the surgery.

The very odd thing is that Julianne's symptoms of looking only to the left and keeping her head turned that way seem to NOT be an effect of the stroke. The Neurologist says that this type of stroke would affect the right side of Julianne and the area of the stroke doesn't control eye or head movement. He said that what it could affect is Julianne's vision. However, often, when this happens to a baby you don't even know its affecting their vision because the child thinks, growing up, that everyone sees like that. Sometimes in a baby the brain can even compensate for the loss OR she might not have any vision damage at all. We'll just have to wait and see. Another thing they're going to talk with the stroke experts about is if they have ever seen these type of symptoms she's been having with this type of stroke. At this point they're still thinking those symptoms are from a Reglan reaction though. An encouragement to us was the way that Julianne was interacting with us before she left for her MRI...smiling, talking and playing with her daddy and mommy!

One of our many prayers has been that the doctors and nurses eyes would see whatever they needed to see to help Julianne. We are VERY THANKFUL that the head MRI was done and they saw the stroke before her surgery. We're thankful for God's protection of Julianne during her MRI. We're thankful that her stroke was not as bad as it could be! We continue to pray for healing for Julianne's heart and for her constant protection from any harm. Thank you so much for all of your prayers today and always. Thank you for the verses you've sent us as they've been a great encouragement, uplifting to read and a reminder of God's constant presence during ours and Julianne's times of need. Please continue to pray for our little girl.

16 comments:

Julie Miles said...

Thanks for the update on the MRI's. I'm sorry to hear that the head scan was not as good news as the heart. I will be praying for her doctors and neurologists to have wisdom about how to proceed now. What great pictures and videos of Julianne! Keep looking at those to cheer you up as you continue to trust the Lord with your sweet little girl.

Anonymous said...

I'm sending love and hugs to you and prayers to God that His good and perfect will be done.
Amanda A.

Anonymous said...

I Peter 1:6-9 "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Kent and Jessica - your faith is being proved genuine before our very eyes and it is resulting in praise, glory and honor for our awesome God. May you be filled with inexpressible and glorious joy. We continue to pray for Julianne's complete healing and for strength and comfort and ever-increasing faith, of greater worth than gold, for all of you.
love, sherry and paul z.

Rebecca Jeffries-Hyman said...

We are praying and praying and praying. We love you!

Becky Mackenzie and Levi

Anonymous said...

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strengh; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:31

We are praying for patience, courage, and peace for you during this very difficult time. We are also praying for wisdom for the doctors and nurses who are caring for Julianne. We are so thankful that she is in such a wonderful place where she can receive such fantastic care!

Rachel and Trey U.

Anonymous said...

I am sad to hear that Julianne has suffered a stroke. But I am grateful that the doctors were able to detect it before her surgery.

The pictures and video were sooo touching I wished I could be there with you all.

My mind and heart are with you all throughout the day.

I will continue to pray that sweet Julianne's heart will improve and that she has no further setbacks.

God bless you all.

Love Great Aunt Suzette

Anonymous said...

Dear sweet Jessica and Kent

Whenever Oma came to visit she would leave pray cards in various places of my house that I would find after she left. I found the following after her last visit:

"When worn by toils of busy day, Christ found it always good to pray.
In solitude He sought a place
To talk with God and seek His grace.
So when I'm weary, worn or weak,
Continually His face I'll seek!

In secret prayer, O blest retreat,
We need not ever know defeat,
New strength for tasks
both great and small,
Is promised those who on Him call.
So when I'm weary, worn or weak,
Continually His face I'll seek!"

I love you three very much
Aunt Sarah

Anonymous said...

We continue to lift you all up to our soverign Lord and Savior!! All Praise to God that HE is in control and holding you all in HIS loving arms.

Love to all,
M White

Anonymous said...

We're so sorry to hear of the stroke. However, we are thankful that the information was found before her surgery, to keep any unforeseen issues at bay.

We will continue to pray that her heart function returns to where it needs to be, and that the road to recovery is a smooth one.

Please give her a hug and kiss for us down here.

We love you all....

A. Stac

Anonymous said...

Dear Jessica, Kent and Family
Our hearts are so touched by your strength and faith which we know comes from our Mighty God. Our prayer is that "He who is able" will continue to watch over Julianne and all of you as you walk by faith and live out the gospel to those around you.
Love in Him
Carlette and Ernie B

Anonymous said...

Kent & Jessica,
We continue to lift y'all up in prayer.
"The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." Isaiah 4o:28-29
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Is 41:10
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Is 43:2,3

Anonymous said...

Sorry, I didn't sign who that was from ...
We love y'all and keep you close to us in our hearts. We are grateful that God, through prayer allows us to be with you through this time.
Erin C. and family

Anonymous said...

Dear Jessica and Kent
I was sorry to hear of her stroke but but have found some peace in knowing that our prayers were answered. I prayed that they would look very "closely" at her MRI results and that their eyes would be opened as to where her problems lie.
The question is how large of an area was affected and for how long. As living proof you know that some effects of the stroke could be temporary as she is still growing. As far as her vision goes if you remember I had double vision as a result of my stroke. This caused me to "angle" my head in one direction in order to "line things up" so I could see clearer. Question maybe for the Neurologists regarding the "way" she is holding her head.
But she is communicating with you all and showing she "knows" you this is great. So I am praying that this was a small bleed something that will pass in time and she will fully recover from.
Please call me for any insight from a stroke patient that you may want.
I love you all and hope Thursday will be a better day!
Love Aunt Naomi

Jeffrey Johnson said...

Dear Kent and Jessica,

Amy and I, along with Olivia, are praying for you and for Julianne. We love you.

-Jeff Johnson
Pineville, LA

Unknown said...

I just want you all to know that I am praying for little Julianne. She is precious. I am Daniel's Spanish teacher at Belhaven and have followed this little one from day one. He just gave me your blog today, and I am so greatful. Now, I know better how to pray for her. We have prayed for her in class too and will continue to do so.

May the Lord continue to give you all strength to get through each and every day.

In Christ,

Joanna Dieckman

Anonymous said...

I love the video's. She is so cute!!! There is not a day that goes by I don't think about each one of you. Jeremy and I have been and will continue to pray for ya'll. We love ya..

Stacey