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Twins!!

This is a long story that has been going on for 9 months. My friend, Dina Rich, is having exploratory heart surgery today. Her husband is a reservist who works with contractors in Iraq. He was home this spring on leave and they discovered upon his return to Iraq that they were unexpectedly expecting. Then they discovered they were expecting twins!!! The pregnancy was extremely difficult and Dina had to manage care of their incredibly difficult 3 yr. old all with her husband fighting in Iraq. Thankfully he was able to come home in early December. Only 5 days after his feet touched American soil they had a routine OB appointment at 36 weeks and Dina had severe preclampsia so they did a C-section to get the babies out. Dillion and Katia were 5 lbs 11 oz and 5 lbs 7 oz. They are doing great and off all feeding tubes already at 1 week old today. After the C-section Dina complained of difficulty breathing. They discharged her anyway. She went to the ER yesterday and went into congestive heart failure. Then they found a heart murmur and now they are planning on doing exploratory heart surgery today. They have no family support what so ever!! I will be traveling out of town for the holidays so they will have even less support available. Please pray for Dina that they find answers and help her heal quickly. Pray for the family unit to be strong to lift her up. Prayer is sooo powerful. Thank you for all your prayers and please continue to pray for Dina, Ed, the babies, Katia and Dillon and big sister, Dania. They decided they were rushing things and post poned surgery for Dina yesterday. They gave her some different medications and she seems to be responding. They have determined it's a heart murmur and leaky valve that she has probably had for a very long time, but is only a problem now because the stress and strain from the pregnancy and preclampsia. There is talk of more tests on her heart. One they will put a camera down her esophagus to take a closer look and one involves putting a cath in her heart. They have not completely ruled surgery out, but the posibilities are decreasing as she continues to respond to the medication. They moved her from ICU to a regular room so I have taken Dania to see her and they are allowing her to go downstair and spend time with the babies as well. Today was full of GREAT news. They did the test with the camera down her esophagus, but didn't need to put the cath in her heart. Dina will NOT need surgery. The stress and strain from all the extra fluid and preclampsia was very hard on her heart, but it is looking strong and should recover with meds, rest, and time. The babies will be home tomorrow and Dina should be released tomorrow or the next day. Everyone will be home for Christmas!!!

Here are a couple pics.



Here is a clip of big sister Dania playing at our house.




Everyone is home safely from the hospital!!!!

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Valorie Leonard said…
So glad the family is home from the hospital. We will pray for continued strenght and health.
8:16 PM
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