Yesterday was Matthew’s annual cardiology check-up. Height: 2’7″ Weight: 23 pounds.
The first thing Dr. Anderson said when he walked in the room was, “How is Miracle Matthew?” I really appreciate that he always remembers, and comments on Matthew’s miraculous healing.
Matthew cooperated very well for the echocardiogram – he just relaxed, sipped on a bottle, and watched the “Baby Einstein” video up on the screen. ( … not my favorite video series, but that’s a topic for another time!)
During the echo, the technition said, “So this is Matthew! His name has been brought up at many a cardiology conference. I looked back in his file – it’s really interesting to read the surgeon’s reports … he has had quite a journey, hasn’t he?”
It was a good reminder to Aaron and I that he really is a miracle, and that, at one time, his heart really was that bad. Sometimes our journey seems like a bad dream … the memories a little foggy over time (or maybe we were just living in a constant foggy state? That could be true, too.) Living with Matthew every day, we often see him as “Matthew the Menace: a force of destruction like you’ve never seen,” and forget that it’s a true miracle that he is able to be a menace at all. Cardiology appointments are good reminders that he is Matthew the Miracle: a gift from God.
The test results? His heart still looks good – the patches are doing well, and there are no adhesions (extra tissue bands) around the valves, which can sometimes form after surgery. His mitral regurgitation (valve leakage) is “mild to moderate,” but not significantly worse than 1 year ago. If the leakage causes the left side of his heart to become enlarged, he may need a valve replacement down the road. For now, though, the left side of his heart looks just fine. Considering that 2 1/2 years ago, we were told the left side of his heart was too small to support life, it seems ironic that now we’re worrying about it being too big.
There is nothing we can do about it, though – except to keep praying. Matthew is in God’s hands, as he always has been.
…and that’s all the heart news until next year!