Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

As many of you know, Hunter was diagnosed last month with a Bicuspid Aortic Valve, which is 1 of 40 Congenital Heart Defects. First, I want to say he is ok! Even though it took a lot for me to get to that stage, he really is. I was a blubbering mess when we were in the pediatric cardiologists office and got the news, and it was a pretty tender subject for me many weeks after. I was worried when he would run or play hard and all I could think about was the sonogram images of his heart and those valves just pumping overtime, or that he was going to have to have open heart surgery tomorrow. But I have done a ton of research and trust the doctors when they say he is fine.

Basically, BAV is where your valve that moves the blood from your heart to your aorta only has 2 flaps. The valve is suppose to have 3. So Hunter's 2 valves are having to work 33% harder than they should. Sometimes those valves can swell, or not function properly and blood will "leak" back into his heart. At this point surgery would potentially be needed to put in a mechanical 3rd valve. However, after much testing he has no leakage and his other 2 valves look fine. He will just have to see his pediatric cardiologist, whom we love and the facility is amazing, once a year for the rest of his life.

BAV is a hereditary condition. Therefore, all you family members out there, ask the doctor to take an extra close look at your heart the next time you go in. The pediatric cardiologist suggested Mike and I go get checked out to see if we can find out which side it is on. Many people go their entire lives having this and don't even know it.

So, in honor of Hunter, we are celebrating Congenital Heart Defect Week. Please join me in bringing awareness to this issue by wearing purple on Friday. Here is the link to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/581932661897842/781230018634771/?notif_t=like