Elisha's Testimony
By: Enna Panchelyuga
Hello Everyone! I want to share with you our testimony about our miracle boy, Elisha! Our Elisha was in a hospital in February of 2012 for a couple of weeks with a respiratory virus. He was put on oxygen and sent home. While in the hospital, he was diagnosed with a heart murmur. They did an echocardiogram in the hospital, and we were sent to repeat it again to confirm the results. He was diagnosed with a VSD and a coarctation of the aorta. Elisha began to have weekly cardiology appointments to see how he is doing. His narrowing of the aorta went from 8 mil to 3.
His local cardiologist insisted that he have surgery to cut out the narrowed part and connect the large parts together. On the VSD, they did not want to do anything yet. The doctor said it can close on its own. We were so worried and scared about surgery. It was supposed to be in Denver, and its around a 4 hour long procedure. We were all praying so much. We had a lot of people praying for us. I go to a women's prayer group, and the whole group was praying for him.
When the doctor asked me when to schedule the surgery, I asked if he could do it either at the end of April or beginning of May. The doctor did not want to wait that long, so I asked if we could do it after April 15th. We had a guest preacher coming on the 15th, and we wanted to pray with him. The surgery was scheduled for April 17th. Well on the 14th, that preacher came to my mom's place, and we all got together there. He was praying, and after the prayer, he said we should try a couple of other specialists to get a second opinion. We came home and cancelled the planned surgery. On Monday, April 16th, I called and scheduled an appointment with another doctor from another team in Colorado. There are only 2 teams of doctors in Colorado for cardiology. The appointment was in Denver on the 20th with Dr. Miller. The lady gave me their website, and when I read about this doctor, this is what it said, " Dr. Miller has special interest and expertise in interventional cardiology, which involves treating various heart defects using non-surgical techniques." To me, that was already an answer from God.
When we got to the appointmentt, I told Dr. Miller that I did not want to say what Elisha was diagnosed with. I wanted him to go in blind and find out on his own. The doctor got excited about that idea. To him it was a learning experience! Elisha got an echocardiogram and an EKG done. After that, the doctor came in the room and explained what he had. He drew a picture of everything that was going on with his heart, and he confirmed that Elisha has a coarctation of the aorta. He began to talk about the treatment. He said his coarctation is not critical, but it is mild to moderate. What surprised me the most was that he said Elisha does not have to have surgery! I asked him what would he would do if it was his child, and he said he would wait until the blood flow is smaller. Then he would make a tiny whole above the leg and go in with a catheter through the vein or the artery and widen out the aorta using a balloon. It is not risky and its about an hour long procedure. The child gets sent home the same day.
It was such a relief for me to hear that! It was an answer from God to us that Elisha doesn't have to have surgery to cut out the narrowed part of the aorta. So for now, Elisha is monitored to see how his blood flow is doing. His next appointment with Dr. Miller was May 21st. The doc said that the results are better than in April and Elisha's blood flow is actually better (not worse) and he wanted to see him in 2 months. We went in July and that appointment went very well too. The results just keep getting better. His last appointment was in November of 2012, and the doctor said there are no changes. He is not worried about his heart and feels comfortable seeing him 9 months! Wow! How far have we gotten! Dr. Miller was actually happy himself for the decision we made. So far, he does not want to do anything- no catheter and no surgery.
We are happy that we did not hurry with that decision and waited for an answer from God. We believe in God's miracles! Elisha is 14 months old, and he is doing great! He's a very happy and active boy. He is on the small side, but he is developing amazingly! We already see GOD'S hand and how miraculously He has helped us and answered us! He is an awesome GOD!!!! Yes, everything is possible with God. All Glory be to God for all His goodness! Our God is an amazing God!!!!
Elishas update: Elisha is now 2 years old and is thriving and doing great! His last apt was at the end of September 2013 and the doctor said his heart is doing better and his coarctation numbers are showing better. He now wants to see Elisha in 2 years! PRAISE GOD! HE IS AN AWESOME GOD!!!!
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