Tough News...

Friends and Family

We received some really tough news today.  I am sure
you will have lots of questions--right now we don't
have any answers.  Our hearts are breaking as we watch
our sweet little girl and face a really uncertain
future.  Outwardly everything is perfect.  Her heart
isn't growing right, though.  At her sixth month
doctor visit, we found out she has a heart murmur.  We
made an appointment with a children's cardiologist.
We were all quite shocked by what he saw.  The septum
between her ventricles has grown very thick and is
beginning to obstruct the blood flow to / through her
aortic valve.  This is extremely unusual--especially
because she is so very young, and the fact that it
wasn't detectable for her first few months of life.  
For now she is being put on a medication to lower her
blood pressure.  More tests are needed, but the doctor
wants to do more research before deciding what tests
are most pertinent.  As of right now, our next
appointment is May 15th, unless the cardiologist has
more information for us.

We know that we have a good God, a loving Father, that
is taking care of us and Aubrey Ella as well.  I am
confident that He will meet our needs and carry us
through this future we are facing.  God gave us this
incredible baby girl--and we get to love her and raise
her for as long as He lets us.  For that we are both
thankful and fearful.

Please pray.  Pray for our strength to be the best
parents for Aubrey.  Pray for God to meet us as we
hurt.  Pray for us to become closer together.  Pray we
can face the days ahead with grace and courage.  Pray
for wisdom and clarity for the doctors and that they
would know a way to help her.  Pray that Aubrey can
have a full and wonderful life. Pray for healing. 

I am attaching a link so you can see a drawing of her
condition, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. 

http://images.healthcentersonline.com/heart/images/article/Cardiomyopathy.jpg

Love,
Brian, Julie and Aubrey

Pictures of Aubrey FYI-
http://picasaweb.google.com/bjbuckshots