Follow-up echo and visit with Perinatalogist

We had our follow-up fetal echocardigram at Children's in Dallas last Thursday, March 19th. The cardiologist said that although the aortic and mitral valves have grown since our last visit (these 2 valves pump blood into and out of the left ventricle), they are still not large enough to support the left side of the heart. As I mentioned in my earlier post, she has a been diagnosed with having a "variance" of HLHS, and her heart is just slightly underdeveloped. Which means nothing other than the fact that she will need one of two things: 1) God to perform a miracle that will allow the valves to grow and to support the left chambers OR 2) the three open heart surgeries that will allow the right ventricle to sustain her life until she eventually needs a transplant. It is just heart wrenching to hear the cardiologist say that her heart is just "slightly underdeveloped, and if the valves had grown just a little bit more, then she would be fine!" I asked, again, HOW this happens and she said there is no known cause, it's just a fluke...UNbelieveable! She also mentioned that she would prefer that I deliver naturally vs. having an elective c-section. Evidently, the natural way is more beneficial to the baby because it squeezes the fluid out of the lungs during the process of coming down the birth canal. I asked about the trauma or stress that babies endure during delivery and if it would be risky with her heart, but she assured me that she will be just fine and the benefits outweigh the risks. So, I'm thinking the natural way is the way to go. Of course another perk is that the recovery is so much quicker, which means that I will get released from Baylor and can be with Ella at Children's much, much sooner.
We then went to the perinatalogist to have our routine visit and asked her what she thought about the cardiologist's recommendation. She said that it is totally up to us, and that we have time to make our decision. She then measured Ella and her estimated weight was 5lbs 8oz (which put her in the 51 percentile) and everything else looked great, as always. We were so happy to hear that!
So now, the countdown is on. It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that this precious baby girl will be here is just a little more than 4 weeks from now....if she doesn't decide to come sooner, that is!
Please pray that she continues to grow and get bigger and stronger during the next 4 weeks....and it wouldn't hurt praying for a miracle, either. How wonderful would it be if they looked at her heart after she was born and found that the left side was the perfect size and functioning the way it should?!? Miracles happen every day, right? If this is not her fate, we know that she'll be okay and that she will be a fighter!!!
Love,
The Morrison's