Boston Bust

So we arrived in Boston on Sunday met by our friends Mitch and Steph. We had a great time hanging out, watching the Super Bowl, and enjoying their company. We checked out Fenway Park, took a tour, and Adam got a beer at the Bleacher Bar underneath the Green Montsa! It was a nice break from everything and almost made us forget the trials of the days ahead.

We got to Boston Children's at 8am to start out our full day of tests and screenings. We met with Dr. Wayne Tworetzky for another fetal echo and a consultation. He confirmed the diagnosis along with the intact atrial septum and we discussed the following days procedure. We were feeling good and ready to tackle this procedure. We continued over to Brigham and Women's Hospital for an ultrasound and to meet with the high risk OB there who would be working with Dr. Tworetzky. That's where everything took a turn for the worse.

During the ultrasound they noted Beth's cervix had shortened as if she was already showing signs of labor. They rushed us over to the labor and delivery floor and hooked Beth up to some monitoring devices. The monitors did pick up some consistent yet mild contractions. After four attempts to start an IV and 10 hours in a cramped 8x8 room we learned that with the pre-term labor we were no longer candidates for the fetal intervention procedure. We were now at a much greater risk for the procedure to result in Beth going into full blown labor in which case our little guy would certainly not survive. There was also a much greater risk to Beth rupturing membranes or the placenta breaking away from the uterus wall.

We are now back to square one with the added worry that Beth could now go into labor at any time. Sometimes it feels that the universe is aligning against us and little Shawn. It's getting harder to hold on to hope.

Boston or Bust

Well we finally got the word from the coordinators at Boston Children's and we are set for the fetal cardiac intervention on Wednesday the 6th!  We will be heading to  Boston on Sunday.  Monday will be a relax day and hopefully be able to catch a few of the sights in Boston.  Adam said something about maybe taking a tour of Fenway Park.  We are looking forward to seeing our friends Mitch and Steph.  Steph lives around Boston and has been gracious enough to let us stay with her.  We're so fortunate to have such awesome friends!  Tuesday will be a full marathon day of ultrasounds, echocardiograms, and  meetings with the doctors who will be doing the procedure to make sure that Shawn is still a candidate for the fetal cardiac intervention.  After that we will meet with the high-risk OB doctors to make sure that I am able to go through with the procedure.  When everything turns out okay we will just have to sign consent forms and then we will be all set for the procedure on Wednesday.  We are not sure on a time for the intervention but we will know more once we get out to Boston.  We will have to stay in the hospital for at least one night maybe two, and then will stay around Boston another day to make sure everything is fine.  Just wanted to thank everyone for the support you have been giving us and please contiune to pray for Shawn as we go through the fetal cardiac intervention.