A major misdiagnosis can easily happen - especially for babies in the womb - but they certainly surprise you. In our case, this is just one of the reasons why Maggie earned her nickname “Miracle Maggie“.
Maggie was diagnosed with a very severe heart defect while in the womb (around 32 weeks gestation). Her two heart defects were labeled DORV (double outlet right ventricle) and TGA (transposition of the great arteries).
The doctors had been preparing us for almost immediate surgery after Maggie’s birth, but only if the strength of her lungs permitted. Otherwise, the surgery would have to wait and she would need constant support to keep her body going with a heart defect like that. It was very tragic news hearing it for the first time and every parent’s worst nightmare.
This was just one of the reasons we decided to deliver at Sunrise Children Hospital in Nevada - they were well known for their upscale NICU and high level of excellent treatment for babies with heart issues.
Shortly after birth, Maggie received an x-ray/ultrasound on her heart and the cardiologist walked over to my husband and said, “she has a completely normal heart."
We couldn’t believe it.
Maggie still had minor complications - a VSD, ASD and one thin artery - but these things can easily heal on their own (at the time I am writing this, one of them has already healed).
The misdiagnosis was likely due to the amount of amniotic fluid I had in the womb and Maggie’s particularly small size. It was easy to see things that weren’t actually there. But my oh my what a miracle this was. Just one less thing to worry about.
So, I say to all my fellow pregnant mamas out there who are receiving heartbreaking news for the first time - hold onto hope. I know Maggie’s misdiagnose of her heart is not the first time this has happened. In fact, it happens quite often. These babies are stronger than we realize. They each have their own story to tell. We must let them tell it.
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