First, I must say I know this post will be a shock for many friends and family. The last you heard from us was via email with the announcement of Khloe's birth, which was a wonderful, beautiful event, complication free on January 30, 2008. She was born at 1:16am, weighing 6 pounds 8 ounces, 19 inches long, beautiful, angelic, pink, healthy; except for the "slight" murmur the MDs heard.
On January 31, 2008, while we were preparing to go home from the hospital the pediatrician on call came in to listen to her heart and give her the discharge consent. Well, that is when our lives were forever changed. He didn't like what he heard, so he ordered testing. Within the hour, she was in intensive care, on oxygen, and being prepared for transport to Texas Children's Hospital in downtown Houston.
Khloe' has been diagnosed with a severe congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot, where there are four issues wrong in the heart. To make matters worse, she aslo has an additional defect called Discontinuous Pulmonary Arteries, meaning her pulmonary artery, which would usually leave the right ventricle as one artery then split to the left and right, is "disconnected" on the right side. For now this right side is getting blood through a PDA which usually closes after about 24 hours after birth (when she started to have problems). The PDA is being kept open with a medicine called prostoglandin. However, this medication can not be used long term and does have side affects; it is essentially just buying the time until surgery. With that being said, the Cardiac team reassures us that Khlo'e heart is not weak, in fact they tell us it is very very strong; it is just made different and needs to be repaired in order to work at its optimum.
As of today, February 1, 2008, Khloe' is stable, breathing on her own, eating, pooping, sleeping, doing everything on her own. She literally looks like an angel in her bed. We were able to have her baptized and she also received Anointing of the Sick, so she is in a most perfect state of grace now.
She will remain like this in ICU until heart surgery next week. The cardiac team will be meeting Monday morning (February 4) to discuss when the open heart surgery will take place next week and what the plan will be.
This is where all of you come in. Please check our website to see what time and day her surgery will be so that we can storm the heavens with prayer. That is all that is sustaining us right now. My parents are here indefinately and my brothers will likely come to Houston for the surgery. Ghaleb's mom is due to arrive in Houston on Friday, February 8, and his sister lives here in Houston.
Ghaleb, the boys, and I are doing as well as can be expected. We are trying to focus on getting through this surgery and getting our sweet baby girl home with us. Thank you is just not enough to say to all of you who are praying, calling, offering help and support. Please continue and know that we love and appreciate every one of you and what you mean in our lives.
God bless all of you and God be with Khloe' always.
Michelle Stepney with Twins, Alice and Harriet
Scott Stepney, Twins' Dad
