24 Wochen Page #3

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- And...

I can't really see his little heart yet.

His back is...

- He's moving too much.

Yes, and he has his back to us.

Could you turn over?

Okay.

- To the left a bit.

Like that.

- That's great. Stay in that position.

Okay...

It's very fast, isn't it?

I'll take a closer look.

Is it too fast or too slow?

Just give me a moment

and then I'll explain.

If you could just keep still,

that'd be great.

Oh, sorry.

...pumps blood to the lungs.

And on the left is the left atrium,

the atrium mitral valve,

and then the left ventricle,

which pumps blood into the artery.

And this here confirms the diagnosis:

There is a hole

in the interatrial septum.

Here.

This area here

is sharing a heart valve.

And there's a big hole in the ventricular

septum and the interatrial septum.

In the lower area,

we'd take Gore-Tex fabric

and we'd use a Gore-Tex patch

to construct a new ventricular septum.

And up here,

we'd use our own pericardium,

treated with glutaraldehyde.

And then we'd be able to seal this hole.

Not right away.

Not with newborn babies.

We wait until the baby is four months old

and weighs between 9-11 pounds.

So, I'll put it in my own words:

there are two holes,

which can be repaired.

Exactly.

If both ventricles are large enough.

That's the requirement.

- If both what?

Both ventricles, both chambers.

Are big enough.

Then we can repair the heart.

The operation is a complicated procedure.

When the baby's...

- Are they large enough?

Not yet,

but we can't say for sure right now.

We think the left chamber is smaller.

- Will that make the operation harder?

More complicated?

- Of course.

We would have to operate

when the child's one week old...

One week old?

- One week old.

What would the operation involve?

It would be major, open-heart surgery

and we'd stop the heart.

First, we'd have to

open up the chest wall.

We'd cool the heart.

Then we'd stop the heart.

And then...

- "Open up"? What do you mean?

We'd have to saw it open, open it up...

Saw it open? But it's tiny.

- Saw it open.

We have to, unfortunately. It's bone.

And you have to saw through bone...

We don't need all the details.

It's an operation you do regularly...

I have to know

what'll happen to the baby.

If it'll be taken away after birth.

But it still has time to grow,

if I understood correctly?

Exactly. If both ventricles...

- But whatever happens, you'll operate?

Correct.

- You'll definitely do one operation.

But maybe you'll have

to do several operations.

And the first operation

will be done soon after it's born.

Am I right?

- Yes.

And to do the operation, the child...

What did you say?

Its heart has to be stopped.

So, it'll be...

...put to sleep, or what?

- Exactly.

You see? You have to ask...

- But we've been doing this for decades.

But do we need to know everything?

- Putting the child to sleep...

Do you really want to know the details?

I'd like to know precisely

what we can do.

Nothing.

That's the first thing you should know.

You can't do anything to change it.

There are no procedures or medication.

We'll just keep track of developments.

And let nature take its course.

That's it...

But, please, don't start

to question the decision you've made.

What do you mean?

The decision to have your child,

despite the trisomy 21.

You shouldn't doubt that decision.

But... it's important to remember

that this burden,

and the care these children require,

that this will be with you

for the rest of your lives.

That said, it will sometimes

be a burden and sometimes a joy.

Sure, but ultimately you still

have a child with a heart defect.

Even if the operation goes well.

But we don't know

how the ventricles will develop.

One is okay, one is half-okay.

There's the question mark.

And that's a matter of fate.

That's just fate.

Yeah, I know.

It's not your specialist field, huh?

Could you explain it a bit to me anyway?

Yeah, sure. All the more for Astrid.

It's just a lot to deal with.

No, I know that,

but it'll still be so tiny.

Sorry.

It's just so tough.

Yeah, let's get some shut-eye.

Okay, sleep well. Thanks.

Paul says hi.

It had to be the heart.

But it's an organ like any other.

Liver, kidneys, heart...

It makes no difference.

Paul says

Kostelka is an excellent doctor.

I really have to go to the bathroom.

- Okay.

Back in a sec.

My sweet little baby.

Here's something

on the Association of Disabled People,

and on self-help groups,

on inclusive childcare facilities.

And here's a brochure

from the Ramba Zamba Theater in Berlin.

Thank you. Bye.

- You're welcome. Bye.

A late-term abortion...

What exactly would it involve?

You're given a drug

to start contractions.

And then labor is induced.

After the 24th week,

the child would also...

be given a potassium chloride injection,

in the heart.

Then it dies...

- Thanks. I didn't want that much detail.

Bye.

I didn't hear you. We were too loud.

Thank you.

Can I have some salt?

- You had loads already.

You used it three times.

- Give it here.

Give Mommy the salt. There you go.

Can I be excused?

- Are you full already?

You hardly ate.

Stop that please, Nele.

That's annoying, Nele.

Thank you.

Have you two considered...

not having the child?

We considered it and decided against it.

You'll have a lot to deal with.

It's a different situation now.

What's different?

- Go to your room, please.

Why?

- It's half an hour past your bedtime.

It's 8:
30.

- Really? 8:
30 already?

Time to go.

- Off you go.

Thank you.

Brush your teeth.

- Good night.

I thought you were here to support us.

Yes, exactly. And I am.

I just think that...

maybe you have to admit

that you're not strong enough.

We're not strong enough?

I just thought that maybe...

- We are strong enough.

We are.

- I'm sure you'll manage it, but maybe...

You could just reconsider

all the options. I'm not criticizing you.

I didn't think you were.

- Forgot to put it on the table...

No one's forcing you

to have these children nowadays.

We've reached our decision.

You won't change our minds.

We've decided.

Both of you?

- What?

Just keep out of it, okay?

Like you did when Dad was dying.

I'm used to that. I can handle it better.

Want some more?

The shower doesn't seem to work.

- Use that one.

Astrid Lorenz!

Imagine meeting you here!

I think you're awesome.

Are you a colleague of Astrid's?

- No, I'm a friend. I'm a mother.

That interview with Lanz last week...

He's a bit weird, isn't he?

You did great, though.

Could I use your shower gel?

Thanks.

I heard about your child

and I'm really sorry.

It's not easy, huh?

- How did you hear?

It was on the radio earlier today.

- On the radio?

Where's Ms. Liberta?

She's recording...

- I know where to find her then.

Stop. Stay here.

No! Listen to me...

- What the hell?

You can't go in there. Listen to me!

Was it you?

- Excuse me! We're recording here.

One moment, Mr. Kretzschmar.

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