Gianna had her sedated echo yesterday along with her abdominal ultrasound.  She did great, though she did need a double dose of sedation ’cause our baby girl is tough and was NOT happy about the test….and have I ever told you how high pitched her cry is. Let’s just say that since a sonogram is based on sound, there was LOTS of interference when she cried! ha!

But, by the second dose. she was good and relaxed….and smiling and being silly. The nurses and tech all melted along with us at  her sweetness and cute antics. 🙂

The echo was for the purpose of assessing her second “miraculous” ventricle for eligibility for a FULL bi-ventricular repair. They took a ton of measurements and pictures of Gianna’s beautiful heart.
The echo took a long time as they were trying to get very precise information, for which I am so thankful.
When that was finished, they called in the abdominal imaging tech to take a full study of her abdomen to confirm the doctor’s suspicions that he was having.
Again, our sweet Gia rocked it! 🙂

It had been a long day and poor Gia screamed half the way home from being so over-exhausted (this was during her nap, and she never did actually sleep).

But, eventually she did pass out. I was thankful…..

The Doctor called that evening, which was unexpected.  He wanted us to know that the ultrasound confirmed his suspicions that Gianna was born without a spleen. She has something called Heterotaxy syndrome .
Heterotaxy syndrome refers to a collection of disorders where either one side of the body is duplicated or the sides do not form in the correct manner. The most common organ systems involved include the cardiovascular system (the heart), the GI tract (stomach and intestines), and the spleen and liver. 

Of course, Heterotaxy can have various manifestations. With Gianna, it shows itself in the absence of her spleen, and with various Cardiac Heart defects.  One of which, she has TWO heart ventricles that are different sizes. Her second miraculous ventricle is smaller, thus the need for a FULL study to determine elegibility of a bi-ventricle repair.  We will prayerfully have more news on this study this week after the doctors all confer with each other on her case. He did tell us the numbers are borderline.

We are asking for prayer that the second ventricle and chamber are big enough to support this surgery for a full repair! Praying for another miracle! Please dear LORD!

So what does it mean that she has NO SPLEEN:

Evidently the spleen is part of the immune system. Its functions include storing old, damaged blood particles and helping identify and destroy bacteria.

So, now so many things are making sense. For instance, why Gianna was sick so often in the orphanage and why she came down with the deadly bacterial meningitis. She was also in the hospital a day after we had first arrived in China for a stomach virus.  
We are so grateful she was at HARMONY HOUSE, because when Gianna was very sick, they addressed the illness right away and took her to the hospital!! She would not have gotten that kind of care in a state-run orphanage. Also, this is such a testimony to God’s provision. Gianna was around sickness and germs constantly!
God had been protecting her all this time! ahhh, SO grateful!

So, this means that Gianna will be on daily antibiotics for many years. Also, fevers and common colds will be a “big deal” in her case and need a doctor’s intervention. A cold won’t JUST be a cold anymore.  We will need to call the doctor at the sign of any sickness as it can go downhill very fast for her….I am nervous about this.

I am just so thankful to know this and have this part of her anatomy figured out though….to understand more about our baby girl, who just weeks ago was such a mystery. So thankful for modern medical medicine.
We are  sad and disappointed that she has no spleen but we are so relieved and thankful she is HOME where she is 100% safe. She could have easily gotten a severe infection again in China!

We are anxious for what the doctors will decide on her future surgeries, but God has given  a peace that just covers us. 
Though, our hearts ache for good news…. He is teaching me, through being Gianna’s mama, how to truly TRUST HIM with the outcomes and results of life and our children and the “results” of stepping out into the unknown. 
Only God knows ours and their future, it is in HIS hands and HE has given us Gianna as a treasured gift, sweet Gianna who is uniquely, fearfully and wonderfully made.
He just asks that we TRUST HIM.

I am learning that as humans we naturally feel we have to know the future outcomes and answers before we step out….as if we are fooled into believing that peace from God and peace of the world is the same thing. 

God tells us different in HIS word. 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”
(John 14:27)

We have to fight that default response. 
We default ourselves into thinking that something is GOD’S will if it is easy, and doable and we have “confidence” in our abilities. That is a false peace.
That is a lie, and it allows us to miss out on HIS small voice, HIS invitations. 
I love the quote by David Platt:

“God actually delights in exalting our inability. He intentionally puts his people in situations where they come face to face with their need for him.”

So, we battle fear and we trust her to the ONE who made her.

We are thankful for this beautiful unique blessing. Still in awe that HE would choose us to be her forever family and to get to walk her through this journey of HOPE. He knows her future, and He already knows and has determined what the doctors will decide and He  had a plan from the beginning of time….. 
do you want to know the part about all this which still amazes us?

That,  He invited US to be a part of this miraculous plan for her life. I am thankful we didn’t let fear of the unknowns win…..that we did NOT play it safe.