Cardiologist didn't get the memo

Cadence had her 2 year check-up a couple of weeks ago and her pediatrician mentioned that he heard a murmur.  Particularly since she already has a "midline defect" (her cleft) he wanted to follow up with a specialist.  Now, she's had 2 hospitalizations for surgeries and seen multiple doctors, but no one had heard it before.  I knew it was a soft murmur, so I didn't think too much about it.  I didn't even mention it to my husband until the next day!  I pulled some strings to see one of my favorite cardiologist (hey, there's gotta be some perks to working in the Peds ICU!) and he managed to get her in yesterday.  So, off to the cardiologist we go.  Let's get our EKG and cardiac ECHO done, take a quick listen, confirm she has a murmur, tell us it's benign, and send us on our way! 

Um, apparently Dr. Hoyer didn't get that memo!  It turns out that she has an ASD (atrial septal defect, or "hole in her heart").  That was not what I wanted to hear.  Now, I work in the PICU.  I am fully aware of the fact that in the grand scheme of heart defects, an ASD is not a big deal.  Most of them can even be repaired in the cath lab and don't need open heart surgery.  On the other hand, I work in the PICU!  I know not only the good, but also the bad and ugly of  "simple procedures" and "simple defects".  I know that in the rare case... well, rare things happen.  So, while 95% of me knows that if she would need treatment, it would not be a huge deal, there is that other 5% that is nagging in the back of my mind.

That being said, she eats great, doesn't turn blue when she cries, and her energy level NEVER decreases, so for now we are going to re-evaluate in a year.  It doesn't seem to be affecting her so we can wait and see if the hole will close on it's own.  Of course, all fingers and toes will all be crossed next year that it has fixed itself!