Juliet's Special Heart

We are adopting Juliet as part of Ch*na's special needs adoption program.  Right now there is a 6 year wait to adopt a non-special needs or "healthy" infant from Ch*na.  The families receiving referrals right now for a healthy infant have been waiting since September 2006!  Most of the Children in Ch*na's special needs program have minor and correctable needs.  With the non special needs program virtually coming to a standstill (with wait times projected to reach 10 years) most families wishing to adopt are opening their hearts and minds to a child with a special need.  We felt that with our backgrounds in medicine and service we were more than capable of caring for a child with a special need like Juliet's.  

Juliet was born with a special heart.  Shortly after she was found and taken to the orphanage she got very sick.  During her hospital stay they found out she had a heart defect.  She has two holes in her heart known as an ASD and VSD with bi-dirrectional shunting.  She has hole between her two atrium and a hole between her two ventricles that allows the blood to flow back and forth between.  The pulmonary artery and aorta do not appear to be switched (Transposition of the Great Arteries) but are in a slightly abnormal position.  She has not had any further echocardiograms since she was 4 months old.  

Based on her medical updates we do know that she is developmentally on track and very active little girl.  A child in the US would have  had this defect repaired and the holes closed as an infant.  God has been protecting her heart for her to be growing and playing with no major illnesses.  We do know that she is a tiny girl, often seen in heart babies.  

We have talked to a few specialists in the US who have graciously reviewed the information we have on Juliet's heart.  There is some information they feel is "lost in translation" but overall based on the old echo believe her condition is operable and will be successful in Juliet living normal life.

We of course are praying that God has completely healed her heart and when she is tested in the US all will be well.  We are however prepared for a heart surgery and healing.