Williams Family Support Fund
Donation protected
Hi, I’m Barb, Katie’s mom. I’ll be updating this page on Katie and babies progress.
Tuesday June 14th - Katie went in for her routine 30 week OB visit. Dr. Larsen was listening to babies fetal heart tones and could hear that they were in a rapid rate. She requested Katie be sent to United Hospital for a non-stress test. Test results showed babies heart rate was in the 270's. This is indicative of SVT = supraventricular tachycardia. (normal rate should be 110's - 150's) Dr. Larsen then consulted MN Perinatal Physicians (MPP) who requested a bedside ultrasound be performed. The ultrasound revealed baby had fluid surrounding her heart and abdomen. Katie was started on IV Flecainide in hopes to reverse babies SVT. Flecainide is an antiarrhythmic that typically takes 48+ hours to even reach baby. Katie was also given the first of two shots of Betamethasone. Betamethasone is used prior to delivery of a preterm baby to help speed up the development.
Wednesday June 15th - Katie's echo (ultrasound of the heart) was normal. Katie's EKG was normal. Babies echo was normal in regards to structure (normal chambers, normal valves, etc) but the cause of the ongoing SVT was still unknown. Baby continues to be in SVT. No change to the fluid around heart and abdomen. MD decided to increase Flecainide dose. Katie was given the second shot of Betamethasone.
Thursday June 16th - Katie's EKG was normal. MD increased dose of Flecainide. Baby converted to a normal rhythm for a total of 2.5 hours for the day.
Friday June 17th - Katie started to have changes in her EKG but not too concerning at this point. Continuing Flecainide. Babies BBP (biophysical profile) revealed no changes to the fluid around her heart and abdomen but is now showing fluid around both lungs.
Saturday June 18th - Katie received her dose of Flecainide. EKG revealed changes that now concerned the doctors so Flecainide was discontinued. Babies ultrasound now revealed fluid in the skin of the neck.
Sunday June 19th - EKG was better than yesterday but still abnormal. Doctors decided to start a new medication, Sotalol. Similar to Flecainide in that it takes 48+ hours to reach baby. Waiting game.......
Monday June 20th - 1:45 AM, Katie had a run of V-Tach. This can be considered a fatal rhythm if gone on too long. Throughout the day ,baby started having short spurts (60 - 90 seconds) of converting to a normal rhythm. YAY!!! Also no changes to her BPP. Because of Katie's run of V-Tach, Sotalol was discontinued. New med, Digoxin was started since the first 2 meds did not work as we all hoped.
Tuesday June 21st - Baby started having longer conversions to normal rhythm anywhere from several minutes to 1/2 hour increments. Continued Digoxin.
Wednesday June 22nd - Katie is 31 weeks today. Baby now having conversions to a normal rhythm of 4-6 hours. No change to medication dose as it appears to be helping baby and not affecting Katie.
Thursday June 23rd - LONGEST CONVERSION SO FAR! Almost 7 hours! And periodically throughout the day. No changes to BPP. Good sign!
Friday June 24th - Although Digoxin seemed to be effective, doctors wanted to add an additional medication called Amiodarone. Although there were no acute changes to Katie and baby, the doctors decided it would be best to transfer Katie and baby to Abbott Northwestern Hospital via ambulance to be closer to the cardiac specialists. Baby continued to have several conversions for different lengths of time but today she had her longest conversion yet - 9 HOURS!!! Go Baby Girl!
Saturday June 25th - Katie met with NICU provider to discuss the "what ifs", worse case scenarios. Basically, in case they needed to deliver baby immediately. Continue same doses of Digoxin and Amiodarone. Baby has had her longest conversion yet - 11 hours I'm wondering if she likes ANW Hospital better then United??!!
Sunday June 26th – Baby had a normal rhythm for an 8 hour stretch and again for a 7 hour stretch. Fluid around her lungs resolved. Doctors talked to Katie about discharging in the near future. Katie would be able to do oral meds at home and be able to use a Doppler to check babies rate from home. This would be helpful for the in between Dr. visits and reassurance.
Monday June 27th – Baby has only been in normal rhythm for 5 hours total so far today. Katie received her first shot of her 2nd round of betamethasone. Katie’s EKG was normal. BPP and US done today. Developmentally on track which is great but baby continues to have fluid around her abdomen and heart. Baby weighs in at 4lbs 12oz.
Katie has only been working minimal hours, more or less, as a distraction to the ups and downs each day brings. She knows a lot of what's going on because she is a RN so that can be positive and sometimes negative. She has shown amazing strength and is being strong for baby and also her husband Brice and daughter Mya. Its been challenging for Katie because she is normally a busy body, on the go, so having to be hooked up to monitors 24/7 has been very difficult.
Brice has been super dad and Mr. Mom!! He's been taking time off work to take care of Mya and run a household at the same time.
The goal of this page is to help with current medical expenses and anything the future may bring post-delivery. Since every day is unknown, Katie could be there the remainder of her pregnancy. If discharged, she would have multiple visits each week through the end of her pregnancy to monitor Katie and baby.
Katie, Brice, Mya and Baby Girl are grateful and would like to thank you in advance for any support whether it be prayers, positive vibes or donations.
Please feel free to share our story.
Tuesday June 14th - Katie went in for her routine 30 week OB visit. Dr. Larsen was listening to babies fetal heart tones and could hear that they were in a rapid rate. She requested Katie be sent to United Hospital for a non-stress test. Test results showed babies heart rate was in the 270's. This is indicative of SVT = supraventricular tachycardia. (normal rate should be 110's - 150's) Dr. Larsen then consulted MN Perinatal Physicians (MPP) who requested a bedside ultrasound be performed. The ultrasound revealed baby had fluid surrounding her heart and abdomen. Katie was started on IV Flecainide in hopes to reverse babies SVT. Flecainide is an antiarrhythmic that typically takes 48+ hours to even reach baby. Katie was also given the first of two shots of Betamethasone. Betamethasone is used prior to delivery of a preterm baby to help speed up the development.
Wednesday June 15th - Katie's echo (ultrasound of the heart) was normal. Katie's EKG was normal. Babies echo was normal in regards to structure (normal chambers, normal valves, etc) but the cause of the ongoing SVT was still unknown. Baby continues to be in SVT. No change to the fluid around heart and abdomen. MD decided to increase Flecainide dose. Katie was given the second shot of Betamethasone.
Thursday June 16th - Katie's EKG was normal. MD increased dose of Flecainide. Baby converted to a normal rhythm for a total of 2.5 hours for the day.
Friday June 17th - Katie started to have changes in her EKG but not too concerning at this point. Continuing Flecainide. Babies BBP (biophysical profile) revealed no changes to the fluid around her heart and abdomen but is now showing fluid around both lungs.
Saturday June 18th - Katie received her dose of Flecainide. EKG revealed changes that now concerned the doctors so Flecainide was discontinued. Babies ultrasound now revealed fluid in the skin of the neck.
Sunday June 19th - EKG was better than yesterday but still abnormal. Doctors decided to start a new medication, Sotalol. Similar to Flecainide in that it takes 48+ hours to reach baby. Waiting game.......
Monday June 20th - 1:45 AM, Katie had a run of V-Tach. This can be considered a fatal rhythm if gone on too long. Throughout the day ,baby started having short spurts (60 - 90 seconds) of converting to a normal rhythm. YAY!!! Also no changes to her BPP. Because of Katie's run of V-Tach, Sotalol was discontinued. New med, Digoxin was started since the first 2 meds did not work as we all hoped.
Tuesday June 21st - Baby started having longer conversions to normal rhythm anywhere from several minutes to 1/2 hour increments. Continued Digoxin.
Wednesday June 22nd - Katie is 31 weeks today. Baby now having conversions to a normal rhythm of 4-6 hours. No change to medication dose as it appears to be helping baby and not affecting Katie.
Thursday June 23rd - LONGEST CONVERSION SO FAR! Almost 7 hours! And periodically throughout the day. No changes to BPP. Good sign!
Friday June 24th - Although Digoxin seemed to be effective, doctors wanted to add an additional medication called Amiodarone. Although there were no acute changes to Katie and baby, the doctors decided it would be best to transfer Katie and baby to Abbott Northwestern Hospital via ambulance to be closer to the cardiac specialists. Baby continued to have several conversions for different lengths of time but today she had her longest conversion yet - 9 HOURS!!! Go Baby Girl!
Saturday June 25th - Katie met with NICU provider to discuss the "what ifs", worse case scenarios. Basically, in case they needed to deliver baby immediately. Continue same doses of Digoxin and Amiodarone. Baby has had her longest conversion yet - 11 hours I'm wondering if she likes ANW Hospital better then United??!!
Sunday June 26th – Baby had a normal rhythm for an 8 hour stretch and again for a 7 hour stretch. Fluid around her lungs resolved. Doctors talked to Katie about discharging in the near future. Katie would be able to do oral meds at home and be able to use a Doppler to check babies rate from home. This would be helpful for the in between Dr. visits and reassurance.
Monday June 27th – Baby has only been in normal rhythm for 5 hours total so far today. Katie received her first shot of her 2nd round of betamethasone. Katie’s EKG was normal. BPP and US done today. Developmentally on track which is great but baby continues to have fluid around her abdomen and heart. Baby weighs in at 4lbs 12oz.
Katie has only been working minimal hours, more or less, as a distraction to the ups and downs each day brings. She knows a lot of what's going on because she is a RN so that can be positive and sometimes negative. She has shown amazing strength and is being strong for baby and also her husband Brice and daughter Mya. Its been challenging for Katie because she is normally a busy body, on the go, so having to be hooked up to monitors 24/7 has been very difficult.
Brice has been super dad and Mr. Mom!! He's been taking time off work to take care of Mya and run a household at the same time.
The goal of this page is to help with current medical expenses and anything the future may bring post-delivery. Since every day is unknown, Katie could be there the remainder of her pregnancy. If discharged, she would have multiple visits each week through the end of her pregnancy to monitor Katie and baby.
Katie, Brice, Mya and Baby Girl are grateful and would like to thank you in advance for any support whether it be prayers, positive vibes or donations.
Please feel free to share our story.
Organizer and beneficiary
Katie Williams
Organizer
Saint Paul Park, MN
Kathleen Williams
Beneficiary
