Ginny Beth and Todd and the rest of Hadley’s family would like to thank you for all of the prayers, gifts, kind words, and support that has been extended over the last week.  They want you to know that they are receiving all of the voicemails, text messages, e-mails, and Facebook posts, and that due to the overwhelming love and support that everyone has shown, it has been hard to get in touch with everyone who has contacted them.  They appreciate everything you are doing!

Doctors’ Diagnosis

After running a host of tests, the doctors have come to the conclusion that there were several factors that led to Hadley’s serious condition and cardiac arrest shortly after arriving at Vanderbilt.

• Viral infection, specifically enterovirus and rhinovirus (which is the common cold that lead to the upper respiratory congestion she has been experiencing).
• Patent ductus arteriosis (PDA). All babies are born with a ductus arteriosis that connects the aorta and pulmonary artery.  It is supposed to close shortly after you’re born, but in some babies it doesn’t, causing oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to mix and cause strain on the heart and increased blood pressure in lung arteries.  To read more about this and see a picture, click here.
• Atrial septal defect (ASD). Hadley was born with a hole between the top two chambers of her heart, which further causes oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to mix.  This in combination with PDA is causing fluid buildup in her lungs.

Treatment

• After Hadley gets over the viral infection, they are planning to do surgery this week to close her PDA.  This will not be open-heart surgery, but rather through an incision between her ribs or through a heart cath.  This will prevent such serious complications from arising in the future from something like the common cold.
• They are planning on postponing any open-heart surgery for one to two years.

Hadley has come a long way in the last week!  As of today, she has been moved out of the Pediatric Cardiac ICU to a patient room on another floor.  She is off the breathing machine, heart medicine, and is eating formula again.  She is still on a low level of oxygen, and her color is great.  She sounds so much better when she coughs – better than they have heard in the last month.  She has also smiled every day I went to see her this weekend.  :-)

Please keep praying for Hadley!  I will write an update as soon as I find out what day they are going to do surgery this week to correct the PDA problem.

If you would like to send an e-card through the Children’s Hospital website, click here.  This is a free service and the cards will be printed out and hand-delivered to the room by a hospital volunteer.

Ginny Beth and Todd are currently on maternity/medical leave from their jobs due to Hadley’s hospitalization.  An account has been setup at First Southern National Bank to receive donations to help with their expenses:

Special Medical Fund for Todd & Ginny Beth Peek
c/o First Southern National Bank
101 West Washington Street [In Person]
P.O. Box 379 [By Mail]
Princeton, KY 42445

Thank you for all of the prayers, love, and support.  Please continue praying for this adorable kid!.