A broken heart?

The Lord commands us to have a "broken heart and a contrite spirit". But two weeks ago when Green Light had his 3-year old well-child checkup, the doctor detected a heart murmur that he had never heard before on this little boy and our fears were that he may have a broken heart....only, not the right kind of broken heart.

We were so blessed to only have to wait two weeks to get into see a Pediatric Cardiologist at UNC Hospital. After listening to Green Light's heart, the cardiologist said that heart murmurs are rated on a scale of 1 to 6, 6 being the loudest. Green Light's was a 2 and that he wouldn't be worried about it except for the fact that he could hear the murmur over the Atrial Valve. So, to make a long heart appointment even longer, he ordered an immediateto examine his heart.

"An echocardiogram is a test in which ultrasound is used to examine the heart. In addition to providing single-dimension images, known as M-mode echo that allows accurate measurement of the heart chambers, the echocardiogram also offers far more sophisticated and advanced imaging. This is known as two- dimensional (2-D) Echo and is capable of displaying a cross-sectional "slice" of the beating heart, including the chambers, valves and the major blood vessels that exit from the left and right ventricle Sticky patches or electrodes are attached to the chest and shoulders and connected to electrodes or wires. These help to record the electrocardiogram (EKG) during the echocardiography test. The EKG helps in the timing of various cardiac events (filling and emptying of chambers). The images are constantly viewed on the monitor. It is also recorded on photographic paper and on videotape. The tape offers a permanent record of the examination and is reviewed by the physician prior to completion of the final report."

Green Light was more than willing to sit through the echocardiogram because they offered him the choice between Bob the Builder or Dora to watch while it was going on. Nice. He was a perfect angel!

The final verdict: Yes, he does have a murmur, but it is considered "innocent". He has no need for premedication or restrictions in exercise. The murmur could stay with him for a year or it may stay for ten years. Luckily for him, he'll only have to develop a "broken heart" in sense that the Lord meant it!