<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DQehLqANqws?ecver=1" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> "The transoral procedure was a very quick procedure, not only time in the OR, but recovery time as well. Really, after the first couple of weeks I was up and moving and speaking well." - Kim Rothman, patient </p>
<p class="article-body"> Sean Miller lost 150 pounds. And then he gained every single pound back, and more. <br> <br> He was unmotivated, heavier than ever, and close to giving up. He had tried it the old fashioned way – with diet and exercise – and failed. "There was no way in hell I was going to do that again," he said. "I needed something new and I needed accountability." <br> <br> Sean attended a <a href="https://gbmchealthcare.formstack.com/forms/weight_loss_information_session" target="_blank">weight-loss information</a> session at GBMC, met successful patients from the <a href="/node/2332" target="_blank">Comprehensive Obesity Management Program </a>(COMP), and was inspired to change his life. "The info session debunked every single myth I'd heard about weight loss surgery. It gave me the confidence to move forward," Sean said. <br> </p> <div class="container-fluid" id="gallery"> <div class="leftside-stories-wrapper full-doc-list"> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/6f5dfee5179e1d6882c42d3f0601cf8f.jpg" alt="Sean Miller"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/ff203f69cccb3a3148d43cd95922bc9a.jpg" alt="Sean Miller"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/1439002d431ad8ad51c631317ec46c76.jpg" alt="Sean Miller"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/86ea045cbb69531bd79f844ad2875484.jpg" alt="Sean Miller"> </div> </div> </div> <br> Now, two years after surgery, confidence is something that Sean is feeling a lot more of. He's in the best shape of his life and living out experiences that are possible only because of how comfortable he feels in his own skin. "When I physically transformed, my goals felt more in reach," he said. "Even just being able to dress in nicer clothes at work made me more confident in the job, which resulted in a promotion. It translates to every aspect of life. I'm not afraid to go after things I used to be shy about." <br> <br> One of those things is a relationship that makes him feel great. In fact, it was posting about COMP on Instagram that connected him to his partner. "We bonded over our shared weight loss journeys," Sean said. "I would never have thought (before surgery) that I could attract a fit, muscular partner and feel like an equal in the relationship. It feels like I'm living a dream." <br> <div class="container-fluid" id="gallery"> <div class="leftside-stories-wrapper full-doc-list"> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/4f04080063ce95f06d88648c4d4ae84c.jpg" alt="Sean Miller"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/abf8b2e208eddf58deb79646a7ca9857.jpg" alt="Sean Miller"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/98968382ec03f4a805189901b93231d6.jpg" alt="Sean Miller"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/828f3d39dba1c12552201815ca47d26a.jpg" alt="Sean Miller"> </div> </div> </div> <br> In the past, Sean's weekends revolved around pizza and the remote. "I used to spend entire Saturdays catching up on all my shows," he said. "Food was my main joy. I spent time thinking about the next thing I was going to eat – mozzarella sticks, Chinese food, ice cream – and I didn't go to the gym, the beach, or parks, because I just wasn't comfortable and didn't feel like I fit in." <br> <br> After his transformation took him from waist-size 52 to 32, he started feeling at home in the gym and even tried something new on the weekends: theater. He's currently rehearsing for a local production of Into the Woods. "I can sing, but I never had the confidence to be on stage, due to my size. Roles would have been a lot more limited, and I never thought I was any good." <br> <br> That kind of thinking is in the past for Sean, as are weekends on the couch. "I barely even have time for TV at all anymore," he said. "I'm out living my life." <br> <br> Sean says he owes a lot of his newfound self-assuredness to the doctors in the COMP program and the members of the private support group. "I couldn't be this successful without the support of Dr. Bello and Dr. Dovec, who are both so kind and helpful, as well as the friends I've made through the program," he said. <br> <br> Now, as a veteran of the COMP program, Sean has been surprised to find himself acting as an inspirational role model for others. "People now look up to me. It's radical the impact this has had on my psyche," he said. "I tell people that I don't have wishes anymore and I don't make excuses. If I want it, I can achieve it, and they can too." <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Karen Woolsey remembers the day exactly — she was at the bank where she ran into an old friend who she hadn't seen in months. They struck up a conversation and Karen learned that her friend was active in GBMC's <a href="/node/2332" target="_blank">Comprehensive Obesity Management Program</a> (COMP) and was preparing for weight-loss surgery. This was the first time she had heard specifics about the surgery, although it didn't occur to her that it was something she could do. She didn't know it at the time, but this was the beginning of her journey towards better health and a better life. <br> <br> Karen struggled with her weight for years. Although she tried many ways to lose weight, she could never stick with it. She bounced between weight-loss programs, without success and paid for gym memberships that she didn't use. She recalls once calling to cancel a gym membership and having to tell the person on the phone that she hadn't gone a single time. Karen described this time in her life as an emotional roller coaster. <br> <br> </p> <div class="container-fluid" id="gallery"> <div class="leftside-stories-wrapper full-doc-list"> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/56eed8b10cf16553c3a5dc36be3e5b82.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/e6f938c3cc60d8a7f714d5725ba7c4aa.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/9ec628a77bfd1a9426325fa632bd6c8b.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/1d1545af14f3661087ac082a2d1daee1.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/9e2f29c5f44f1bc098e444b443835b51.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> </div> </div> <br> When she was younger, Karen was very active in high school sports, to the point that she was voted "most athletic" in her senior yearbook, but once she graduated, her activity levels decreased significantly. When she was 21-years-old, she lost her mother to breast cancer and everything went downhill from there. Suddenly, she was taking care of her 11-year-old sister, all the while dealing with grief from the loss of her mother. Food became a comfort and any time for exercising went out the window. In her words, she "simply stopped taking care of herself." This behavior continued when she had her own children; she gave them all of her energy and neglected her own health. <br> <br> It wasn't until she ran into her friend later that year that Karen thought about weight-loss surgery again. It was now several months after her friend had undergone surgery and Karen was shocked by how happy she was and how successful she had been in such a short amount of time. When her kids became teenagers, she had a bit more time for herself and she decided to attend an <a href="https://gbmchealthcare.formstack.com/forms/weight_loss_information_session" target="_blank">information session</a> at GBMC. It was an easy decision from there. After discussing it with her husband, she decided to enter the program and promised herself that she would no longer live for food. <br> <br> <div class="container-fluid" id="gallery"> <div class="leftside-stories-wrapper full-doc-list"> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/c501df35e59d0b7c4290506b560ba482.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/f9d1c0c26bc8fb0498966d858c9aecd7.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/aab79fcbfd40e17b39a714ef3fc6aef3.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/021188331cbd2f1071cd3667ea154f96.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/735025244363a782bd29cbdc70e46d39.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/4b2720fec895b75300c7660b308bb448.jpg" alt="Karen Woosley"> </div> </div> </div> <br> Now two years out of surgery, Karen is down 90 pounds and feels better than ever. She goes to the gym three to four times a week and is in the best shape of her life. For the first time in years, she is able to walk into any store and find clothes that fit her and now, she enjoys being in front the camera instead of hiding behind it. Her advice is simply this: learn more about it. Talk to family and friends and dig deep within yourself to figure out if surgery is your next step. If it is, you’ll know it. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> "I was always the fat kid." <br> <br> Despite being active with sports and dance, Natalie Semon was always bigger than everyone else her age. Very early in her life, she developed an unhealthy relationship with food which persisted through adulthood. Her home was always filled with processed foods and her diet was unbalanced. Food was a reward when things went well and a comfort when they didn't. <br> <br> In fifth grade, she had blood drawn during a routine checkup and her levels were so off that the doctor thought there had been a mistake. After a second draw, she was immediately referred to a specialist. At age 10, she was put on medicine for high cholesterol. As an adult, Natalie described herself as a "yo-yo dieter," losing weight and then gaining it back time and time again. Each time the weight came back, she was a little heavier than she was before. </p> <div class="container-fluid" id="gallery"> <div class="leftside-stories-wrapper full-doc-list"> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/067b82acba6162c0ca2a61574ec21209.jpg" alt="Natalie Semon"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/86fe2ee2e73630eb77818b678167e1b9.jpg" alt="Natalie Semon"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/caedb176c907fea3a4af27265f1e3259.jpg" alt="Natalie Semon"> </div> </div> </div> <br> Her cholesterol was under control, but it was beginning to rise again. It was around this time that a close friend "basically forced" her to start exercising; she began training for 5Ks and half marathons. She walked — Natalie had a strict rule that she would only run if she was being chased — but she finished the races and she began losing weight again. <br> <br> Everything changed when she adopted her son. She became sedentary and gained back all the weight she’d lost and more. With her blood pressure now rising, Natalie worried that she may not be around to watch her son grow up. It was time to do something different than anything else she had tried. After researching local bariatric programs, she decided to try GBMC's <a href="/node/2332" target="_blank"> Comprehensive Obesity Management Program </a>(COMP). She knew after her first consultation that weight-loss surgery was her next step. <div class="container-fluid" id="gallery"> <div class="leftside-stories-wrapper full-doc-list"> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/29bb804d87f3350d328a92b65a6a6913.jpg" alt="Natalie Semon"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/54221afb698bec838e9771caa4e4bbb3.jpg" alt="Natalie Semon"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/6706162c64f8dd6049afa581af08a9f6.jpg" alt="Natalie Semon"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/5ab74ad2761b8b4bd3666781c413a14e.jpg" alt="Natalie Semon"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/3bc4e62591ec6a927b6b0012423f69b2.jpg" alt="Natalie Semon"> </div> </div> </div> <br> A year and a half later, Natalie is <em>running</em> marathons. She looks good, she feels good, and her bloodwork is normal. Natalie never set a goal weight for herself; all she wanted was to be healthy and to be comfortable in her own skin. She made it. Every day she can feel her stamina and endurance improving and she is an active part of COMP's RUNGBMC group. She has become close friends with people she met through the program and loves the camaraderie in the support group. Natalie has more hope for her future that she has ever had before. Most of all, she’s proud that she'll be able to watch her son grow through the years. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> I had had every test possible and was seen by a variety of doctors, all of whom declared that no cancer was found. I was scheduled to have surgery on February 6, 2014, to have both ovaries removed. I was also told that my lymph nodes were growing outwards inside my body and that they were going to be clipped during my surgery. During surgery and the clipping of one of my lymph nodes, a cancer cell was found lying across my cervix wall across my main blood artery. It could not be removed surgically. <br> <br> </p> <blockquote> I have always been a healthy eater. I researched all foods that are linked to cancer and they do not enter my home. I eat only cancer-fighting foods. </blockquote> When I awoke from the medications and was told, with my daughter and son, that I had cancer. I was in denial and was devastated. All I wanted to know was if it was curable. It was confirmed by a group of doctors that included Dr. Grumbine that it was curable and that chemotherapy, and possibly radiation therapy, was needed to do so. I was so devastated, in denial and depressed, but was preparing myself to put on my boxing gloves to beat this disease. <br> <br> I went through one round of chemo treatments once every three weeks for six cycles of treatments. I had another CT scan done which determined that the cancer was not gone. I had to do another six and a half weeks of mild chemo treatments once a week as well as radiation for six and a half weeks the same time at 4:00 pm every day. With the grace of God, I survived through all of those medications which were horrible. I was loaded with side effects from numbness, tingling, vision problems, loss weight, constipation, and loss of appetite. I lost all of my hair and didn't care. I just wanted to live. <br> <br> I was treated with the best care, respect and compassion from the entire staff at GBMC. I did my research with the best doctors. I was surrounded with friends that experienced cancer to help prepare me along the way. I became cancer-free in February 2015, exactly around the same time as the year before I was diagnosed. I had the best doctors, nurses and personnel at GBMC. My port was removed in May 2015, and I still get tested periodically. I can't thank GMBC and the staff enough. Thanks for my new hair and a new life! <br> <br> I have always been a healthy eater. I researched all foods that are linked to cancer and they do not enter my home. I eat only cancer-fighting foods. I also juice, and eat fresh fruits and vegetables only. I continued my ballroom and hand dancing. I exercise as much as possible to keep my girlish fitness. Life is short! <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> I grew up in Texas, and have been overweight my entire life - it's a part of every memory that I have. Even when it's a small part of a bigger memory, it's still there and still brings back those feelings of embarrassment, frustration, or sadness. I remember my mom taking me shopping in the "husky" section of the clothing store, and how it was sometimes difficult to find a Cub Scout uniform in the right size. I remember what it was like to struggle through every gym class, and to be the last one that finished doing laps each morning. I remember the first time I was afraid to get on a roller coaster, because I might be too big. I remember my grandmother taking me to a hypnotist when I was a pre-teen to see if that would help, and I remember worrying that I'd mess up a friend's wedding photos by being the biggest person in them. The thing I remember most, though, was feeling helpless. Nothing I tried worked for long, and I think I tried it all... <br> <br> I moved from Texas to Maryland for a new career, but then dealt with loneliness and the stresses of the move by gaining more weight. My blood pressure and cholesterol levels were both high, and I was prescribed medications to treat them. When traveling for work, my feet would hurt throughout the day and flying or taking a train were uncomfortable and embarrassing. On February 21, 2014, I turned 39 and promised myself that I was going to turn 40 a healthier, happier person. I had been reading about different approaches to weight loss, and read a lot about the GBMC COMP program. I attended an information session and met Dr. Elizabeth Dovec for the first time. Dr. Dovec is an amazing person with a unique set of gifts - she's talented in the operating room, but also has an amazing empathy for her patients that is very special. She and the team at GBMC put me immediately at ease, and never made me feel self-conscious about my weight. Instead, they helped identify what was keeping me from the successful weight loss that I wanted so badly and gave me hope that I could successfully work to take the weight off and keep it off. Dr. Dovec helped treat nutritional deficiencies and sleep apnea, and her team of nutritionists showed me changes I needed to make. They also helped me understand that I had issues that willpower alone wouldn’t solve, and showed that they could give me some of the tools that I needed to succeed. <br> <br> </p> <blockquote> I've been given the chance to live a longer, fuller life </blockquote> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/8418aae000612c1fa6852b9a7e024c04.jpg"> </figure> For six months, I attended nutrition classes and participated in a private Facebook-based support group hosted by Dr. Dovec. I met other people who had gone through the same struggles, learned many of the same lessons, and were on the journey alongside me. I asked questions and got answers from Dr. Dovec in the middle of the night, when I know she’d been in surgery or with patients throughout the day. I started to see some results from the better food choices I was making, which were reinforced in my monthly visits to the office. The psychologist that I met with and my conversations with Dr. Dovec and the nutritionists helped me identify that portion control was by biggest issue, and I chose to have a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy at GBMC. This surgery would give me a real tool in my fight for a healthier life, and I had never felt so certain about anything. I had been given reams of information and support at the GBMC COMP office, had seen other specialists and my primary care doctor to get their feedback, and was SO ready! <br> <br> I received a surgery date of October 28, 2014, and was so excited when my insurance company approved the paperwork. I was the first surgery of the day, so my mom flew in from Texas and stayed with me for the two days of liquid diet and then a night in a hotel near the GBMC campus. We went to the hospital at 5AM, and flew through the registration process. After some comedic shenanigans involving earrings that I couldn’t get out, it was my turn. The anesthesiologist and nurses got me situated, and Dr. Dovec came in for one last pep talk. My mom had obviously been worrying, but was immediately calmed after meeting with her. I was wheeled into surgery, and was asleep before I even knew it. I woke up in recovery, with my mom and Dr. Dovec by my side. Everything that had been explained to me so many times before surgery had gone off without a hitch, and I now had a stomach the size of a banana. I was whisked up to my room within an hour, and was up and walking the floor an hour after that. Like the GBMC COMP team, the nurses and staff on the surgical floor were amazing. I was kept completely comfortable and had an immense amount of support. I slept like a baby that night, had some tests the next morning, and was then released to go home by the afternoon. When leaving the hospital, I was given a ton of detailed information about what to expect for the next few days, my prescriptions were filled, and I was headed home! <br> <br> The COMP team and Dr. Dovec checked on me over the next couple of days, and I had regular visits to the office to make sure my four tiny incisions were healing properly and that I was comfortable. Fortunately, I didn’t even need pain medicine after the first night, and was able to return to work about a week after surgery thanks to a job that allowed me to take it easy for another week after my return. My follow-up visits went fine, and the results of the surgery were almost immediate. My appetite is greatly decreased, and the new portions I eat meet my needs but my smaller stomach doesn’t allow me to overeat. After the first week, I started to lose weight while still having energy to go about my daily routine. After the first month, I was already noticing a difference, and by the second month other people were noticing and commenting on the weight loss. On July 28, 2015, I get to go to the COMP office for my 9-month follow-up appointment. For the first time in my life, I look forward to visiting my primary care doctor for a checkup or COMP for follow-ups. Each visit, the news gets better and better, and I no longer take ANY prescription medications. My blood pressure and other measures of health like my cholesterol levels are normal, and my doctors are all thrilled. <blockquote> I'm more comfortable doing presentations in front of large groups, which is a big part of my job, and I feel more sure of myself and love it when people tell me how happy and healthy I look. </blockquote> <br> <br> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/fd8e4d359afa03862fb44cff242ea8f2.jpg"> </figure> At my heaviest, I weighed 463 pounds. I am 160 pounds lighter now, but still have a ways to go. Dr. Dovec and the team at COMP have been right beside me for this entire journey, as have the many patients who share their successes and struggles. I have dropped six pants sizes, three shirt sizes, and have never felt better. I'm able to travel much more comfortably, have spent entire days at theme parks without pain or being overly tired, and I am able to attend conventions and stand on my feet for eight to ten hours a day without needing to sit down or worry that my feet will be killing me in the morning. I went on a cruise and spent entire days poolside feeling good and having fun, then ventured out to the beach for the first time in 20 years. <br> <br> I'm more comfortable doing presentations in front of large groups, which is a big part of my job, and I feel more sure of myself and love it when people tell me how happy and healthy I look. I actually ENJOY shopping for clothes, something I didn't think I'd ever say. I think I've taken more pictures (even a bunch of silly "selfies") in the last year than in the ten years before that, and then I don't mind showing them to other people! <br> <br> One of the best gifts, though, has been the opportunity to encourage other people who thought they would spend the rest of their lives overweight. Whether it's friends or coworkers who I take to an information session or someone on Facebook who just feels like they don't have any options, I love being able to tell them about the great experience that I've had and the hope I now have for my future. I'll forever be grateful to GBMC and everyone that makes it such a special place. I've been given the chance to live a longer, fuller life, and you can't put a price on that. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Eight years ago, Jake Rinnier's doctor told him that he needed to get serious about getting his weight under control. His blood pressure was out of control, he had developed Type 2 diabetes, and he was running out of options. His medications weren't working, so the next step was insulin shots. That's when his primary care physician suggested he look into GBMC's <a href="/node/2332" target="_blank"> Comprehensive Obesity Management Program (COMP)</a>. <br> <br> At the time, he was going through three cases of soda a week and regularly indulged in fast food. His life revolved around eating. Jake said that he "would eat pretty much anything that wasn't weighed down." He couldn't find clothes that fit him and simply wasn't comfortable in his own skin. In his job as a landscaper, he couldn't fit into smaller spaces and got winded from pushing his wheelbarrow up a hill. His weight was affecting every part of his life and something had to give. <br> <br> </p> <div class="container-fluid" id="gallery"> <div class="leftside-stories-wrapper full-doc-list"> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/42bc8787f05a8053ed2da86e45b7e123.jpg" alt="Jake Rinnier"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/f8286c7d4e3225a53a02b183617f8329.jpg" alt="Jake Rinnier"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/ebbf605c4b15f20845fc34efa0e4adcb.jpg" alt="Jake Rinnier"> </div> </div> </div> <br> <br> Jake followed his doctor's advice and attended a <a href="https://gbmchealthcare.formstack.com/forms/weight_loss_information_session" target="_blank">COMP information session</a>. That changed everything for him. It wasn't the information that convinced him, although it was definitely helpful, it was the people with whom he connected. For Jake, seeing others’ success first hand was his tipping point. He finally felt like he wasn't alone and became inspired by the transformations that he saw. He decided to go for it. <br> <br> Now Jake's life is drastically different. He doesn't drink soda anymore — he doesn't even think to reach for it. He's working out three to four times a week and running multiple races a year. His energy and confidence levels are "through the roof," he's off all but one of his medications, and he finally feels comfortable with his body. Every day he's doing things he thought he would never be able to do. <br> <br> <div class="container-fluid" id="gallery"> <div class="leftside-stories-wrapper full-doc-list"> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/aa321bd26d845b8f48f5c942e6f52d5e.jpg" alt="Jake Rinnier"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/d4c2c5b140b5cfd1ad0c65b31f24cac9.jpg" alt="Jake Rinnier"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/89ec8dd856a6c47db053deab64c9fe74.jpg" alt="Jake Rinnier"> </div> <div class="gallery-image"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/66bc99244d521a7095efdf40bc6663f3.jpg" alt="Jake Rinnier"> </div> </div> </div> <br> <br> The support of his family and coworkers along with the encouragement from other patients in the program’s private support group greatly helped him through his transition. He found that although everyone in the group had different lives, they were all having similar experiences. He has made friends with many of the people that he's met through COMP and they continue to support each other years after surgery. <br> <br> Jake's biggest advice to people who have any interest or questions in bariatric surgery is to attend an information session. For him, that's where it all began, and he will never go back. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aa_6naIdBRQ" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> If a place saves your life, you will do anything to pay them back. <br> <br> Just ask the Kaplans. <br> <br> Ken and Bonnie love each other, and they also love a place with the initials GBMC. ABC2 News’ Lamont Williams tells us that this couple is leaving quite a legacy when it comes to volunteering. </p>
<p class="article-body"> “I believe your daughter has Infant Botulism. There is a treatment, but it is only made in California. She may get worse before she gets better. She may lose her breathing.” These words are still very vivid to us to this day. These are the words that were spoken to us only a short time after our five-month-old baby, Madison, entered the Emergency Room at GBMC. Dr. Jenna Hammond was on call that evening. She saved our Madison’s life! We would like to share our story with you. <br> <br> We took our five-month-old daughter, Maddie, to GBMC's ER at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, January 9th. Two days prior, she had gotten her first two teeth. We first noticed a few subtle differences in her behavior, but over the next couple days we watched our daughter’s normal, happy and energetic demeanor change into a very weak and sick child. We could not figure out why she would not nurse and why she had these sad, droopy eyes. She was very lethargic and weak, to the point that she could not hold her head up. She also was very fussy, but her cries were becoming weaker. We associated all of this to a bad case of teething, and thought that dehydration was causing her to be so lethargic. We had spoken to our daughter’s pediatrician’s office several times and had even been to an ER at another nearby hospital. All tests came back negative and she didn’t have a fever so we were sent home. Thankfully, we stuck with our own instincts that something was very wrong with our daughter, and we took her to GBMC. GBMC has a separate pediatric ER, unlike many other hospitals. <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/2069bf03644adc4a8f342e4faa253ad4.jpg"> </figure> Within minutes of stepping in the door, the Pediatric ER triage nurse examined Maddie and noticed her poor state. She took vitals and immediately sent us to a room where nurses were already waiting. Maddie's vitals showed no fever, her lungs sounded clear, and she had a good oxygen level and good pulse, but she was very pale and her eyes were closed and appeared sunken in. The soft spot on top her head was also sunken in and her body was limp, like a rag doll. It was very clear that she was extremely dehydrated. <br> <br> Almost immediately after we arrived in the room, Dr. Jenna Hammond came in to see Madison. She immediately commented on Maddie's lack of head control and her dehydration symptoms. She also checked her eyes and commented that her pupils were not dilating. We could tell that she was concerned and questioned us about her weak cry and if she was constipated. In fact, she had been constipated for several days, but that was not that unusual for Maddie. Then, Dr. Hammond looked at us and asked a very unusual question, “Has she had any honey?” We were taken aback by this since we thought it would be an odd question to ask. Plus, we would never offer honey to her at her young age. Dr. Hammond left the room and told us that she would be back after she made some phone calls. This is the moment that we knew that something serious was wrong with our daughter. <br> <br> Maddie laid there in a lifeless state on the hospital bed with many nurses working on her. Due to her severe dehydration and lack of circulation, the nurses had a difficult time putting an IV in Maddie. Finally after multiple attempts and a few frustrating moments, a NICU nurse was able to get an IV in her. They quickly took her blood for testing and then hooked her up to IV fluids. After almost two days, Maddie was finally able to get some much needed hydration, which gave us a sense of some relief. <br> <br> By this time, our heads were spinning. We were confused and exhausted. We were up the entire night before at the ER and were in the midst of having a second night in a row with no sleep. We were drained, but we were trying to stay calm so that we could process everything that was happening. We wanted to call for support from our family members, but with the urgency of everything happening around us, we couldn’t. The staff at GBMC continued to attentively work on Maddie so that they could run tests to determine what was wrong with her. <br> <br> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/efcc536c220ba7e57fa525e891cd943a.jpg"> </figure> It was not long before Dr. Hammond arrived back into our room and delivered us her preliminary diagnosis. She said the poor dilation of her eyes and lack of body control suggested it was a neurological and muscle issue. She wanted to do more tests to rule out meningitis and head trauma, but Dr. Hammond was fairly confident that Maddie had a different illness, one that was very rare. Dr. Hammond believed it was Infant Botulism. <br> <br> We sensed the urgency from the concerned look of Dr. Hammond’s face and the tone in her voice. She said that Infant Botulism (IB) is a very severe and rare bacterial infection that causes weakness and loss of muscle tone in young babies. It causes paralysis of their entire body and blocks the nerves from working. The illness typically begins with constipation and is usually first noticed by difficulty feeding due to poor sucking and swallowing. Babies also have a weak cry, diminished facial expression, and poorly dilating pupils. Maddie had all of the tell-tale signs of IB. <br> <br> Dr. Hammond did say there was a treatment in California and that if we needed it, it would be flown here for us. She also told us that we would not be staying at GBMC. Many babies with IB lose their ability to breathe and we needed to be at a hospital such as Johns Hopkins or Sinai where they would be able to give her the respiratory support that she may need. <br> <br> We asked Dr. Hammond if she was confident in her diagnosis and she said she was reasonably certain even though she had only seen one prior case the year before. Dr. Hammond wanted to rule out the other conditions by doing a round of tests, which included a CT scan and lumbar puncture which is similar to a spinal tap. We quickly were transported to another room to get prepped for the tests. I was allowed to stay with Maddie and hold her hand during the CT scan. For the lumbar puncture, we stayed with her while they prepped her. The nurses asked us to wait in the waiting room during the procedure. While in the waiting room, this is the moment when all of the emotions that had been building over the course of the last 24 plus hours finally hit and I started sobbing. I knew something was severely wrong with my baby and wasn’t processing it. Dr. Hammond said that she thought it could be Infant Botulism, but how? My husband quickly started doing some research on his smart phone. <br> <br> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/095c1f2928dada2cc6a3f586adc65460.jpg"> </figure> He found that babies contact it from swallowing botulism spores, which then produce toxin in the baby's large intestine. The toxin poisons the baby and can cause paralysis. Medical research does not fully understand all the factors that make a baby susceptible, but they do know honey is a source of the botulism spores. It was also concluded that most IB patients acquired the spores by swallowing microscopic particles found in soil and dust. The IB condition is so rare that only 75 to 100 babies contract the illness in the US each year. <br> <br> What baffled us was that we didn’t give Maddie any honey and she wasn’t near soil! It was January 9th and there was snow on the ground and it was frozen! We hadn’t even left our house many of the days prior to her symptoms. Despite Dr. Hammond and my husband thinking that it was IB, I still had my doubts. I sat in the waiting room crying and wondered if she would ever be the same happy little girl ever again. I looked at her, unable to move her body or extremities, with her pupils dilated, and thought that permanent brain damage had already happened. <br> <br> By 1:00 a.m., Maddie had received all her additional tests. Her CT scan came back normal and the spinal tap did not show any abnormalities. Although IB would not be confirmed for another week through analysis of a stool sample, Maddie was going to be treated as though she had it. An ambulance soon arrived to take Maddie to Sinai Children’s Hospital. <br> <br> Maddie spent five days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Sinai and an additional seven days in the regular pediatric unit. The $45,000 antitoxin treatment, called BabyBIG, was flown to us the following day. By the time it reached us, Maddie was in a very poor state. She was put on an NG feeding tube for the majority of her stay. She could barely move, her eyes were permanently dilated, she couldn’t cry but would whimper, and her breathing was labored. She lay in a lifeless state, and was hung in a sling-like fashion on her bed so that her lungs would be open, allowing her to breathe easier. Thankfully, she did not need to be intubated and put on oxygen. We associate this to the quick reaction of the nurses at GBMC and Dr. Hammond’s quick diagnosis. Although we were only at GBMC for a short three hours, it was the most important three hours of Maddie’s recovery. Had we waited any longer, or if she hadn’t been diagnosed so quickly, the treatment would have been delayed, putting Maddie at even more risk of losing her breathing. <br> <br> <blockquote> It was an emotional and a physically draining time for my family. We stayed by her side day and night and watched her get better each day. Her improvements were very subtle things at times, such as opening her eyes, or moving her arm. We were even happy when her moaning and whimpering got louder. With each small improvement, it gave us strength and hope that she would be okay. </blockquote> <br> <br> We were discharged to go home on Wednesday, January 21st. It was the day before Maddie turned six months old. We were happy to be going home, but nervous at the same time. Maddie had made tremendous progress in those two weeks. She could move her legs and arms and her head, and her eyes were responding to light. She still had droopy eyes, but every day they looked a little better. She still lacked head control and had poor muscle tone in her core area. We knew holding herself upright was going to take some time. The NG tube had also been taken out and Maddie was starting to nurse again, although it was still a challenge. She had to relearn how to suck and nursing was very tiring for her. We tried a bottle, but she would become frustrated and refuse to drink it. The doctors planned to admit Maddie to an inpatient rehab center until her feeding got better, but fortunately Maddie started to make better progress and Sinai allowed us to take her home. Sinai arranged for a home nurse to come see her three days a week and she was also going to receive physical therapy services three days a week. In addition to that, we would be seeing her pediatrician on a regular basis – everyday in the beginning to check her weight. <br> <br> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/45bd746dcb6a1579fc8d11f39c3df089.jpg"> </figure> The first couple of days home were physically and emotionally draining. Maddie wasn’t eating well and she wasn’t gaining weight. We were very close to having her re-admitted to the hospital. Thankfully, she started to nurse better and slowly started gaining weight. After those initial few days home, she started to recover very quickly! The home nurse and the PT were very impressed with her progress and were able to scale back their visits. Maddie was soon able to sit in her walker and even jump in the jumperoo! We were all amazed her how quickly she was bouncing back to her happy self again! <br> <br> Today, two months after the IB symptoms started, our lives are basically back to normal! Maddie sits by herself, and can walk forward and backwards in her walker. She loves her two-year-old big sister, Lexi, and is already working hard to keep up with her! Starting baby food was a little delayed, but Maddie is finally starting to like it. Sleeping through the night is still a struggle, but with time, that too, will get better. <br> <br> Most importantly, we are thankful that our little girl is okay and will be able to live a normal and happy life! We are so grateful for all of the support that we received from our family and friends, but mostly all the wonderful nurses and doctors that took care of her. We give most of our thanks to Dr. Jenna Hammond at GBMC for her quick diagnosis, and the BabyBIG treatment that gave our baby her life back! <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y3lbgjKGLyk" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h5 style="text-align: right"> * For closed captioning, click the <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/edd9ba121c174d97705f2b40e511e38b.png" style="width: 20px;"> button in the bottom-right of the video. * </h5> Hear Hilton Foore, a Cochlear Implant patient, talk about his journey from how he found out he had hearing loss to when he discovered and chose to get cochlear implants!
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jqTBdmCIXSo" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h5 style="text-align: right"> * For closed captioning, click the <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/edd9ba121c174d97705f2b40e511e38b.png" style="width: 20px;"> button in the bottom-right of the video. * </h5> Check out this story of Quinn who received Cochlear Implants. Her parents share her story and explain the process they went through together.
When you think of a DJ, you don’t typically think of them having to strain their voice too much. After all, doesn’t the music usually do the talking? Not when you’re Justin Bieber’s official tour DJ. Baltimore native Taylor James started his interest in DJing at the tender age of 12. What started as a hobby turned into a profession and helped pay the bills through college. And that certainly paid off when, upon graduation, Mr. James was offered a full-time position on pop sensation Justin Bieber’s world tour. Suddenly, Mr. James was using his voice like never before. Interviews with the Today Show, pumping up sold out crowds of screaming fans and emceeing events like Justin Bieber’s birthday bash. In December 2011, all this excitement caught up with Mr. James’ voice, bringing him to the Johns Hopkins Voice Center at GBMC. “I thought I was just getting a really bad cold at first,” says Mr. James. “Then all of the sudden, my voice was completely gone. It came back just enough for me to go on the Today Show, but after that, I knew I had to go to GBMC.” Mr. James saw Lee Akst, MD, Director of the Johns Hopkins Voice Center at GBMC and Barbara Messing, MA, CCC-SLP, BRS-S, who found the cause of his problem was vocal fold hemorrhagic polyps. “The evaluation procedure was quick, easy and painless,” says Mr. James. “It was also really convenient for it to be done right in the office.”In order for his voice to perform at full capacity, vocal surgery was recommended and performed with excellent vocal results. Now, Mr. James is undergoing therapy to not only make his voice stronger, but to learn how to use it properly. “At his therapy sessions, we focus on vocal exercises that help to mobilize the vocal folds and promote healing and vocal techniques to improve the balance between breath support and voice production while reducing excessive laryngeal muscle tension,” says Barbara Messing, MA, CCC-SLP, BRS-S, Administrative-Clinical Director of the Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center and the Johns Hopkins Voice Center at GBMC. “He now knows the best ways to perform warm up and cool down to minimize damage to his vocal folds while performing and rest his voice as needed.” The treatment that Mr. James received from the Johns Hopkins Voice Center at GBMC put him on the road to recovery and back on the road with Justin Bieber.
<h4> The story of Katie Corun, as told by her mother, Kathy. </h4> I would like to first thank GBMC for the opportunity to tell my family's story to such a dedicated, professional and caring institution. GBMC is among the very best hospitals, in my opinion. <br> <br> In the fall of 2011, my daughter lost part of her vision in her right eye during a neurology lecture. She had been married only nine months and was fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse. She was seen by a neuro-ophthalmologist at a Baltimore hospital, evaluated and sent for a brain MRI. In short, she endured a nine-hour brain surgery, only to get a biopsy. She was diagnosed with an optic pathway glioma, a rather rare and fatal brain tumor that was malignant and inoperable. <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/c6344a607a5199a8e81963cbad5c9c6b.jpg"> <figcaption> Katie and her husband, Ron </figcaption> </figure> <br> <br> Soon after, she was evaluated and treated by a group of specialists at the brain tumor center at Duke University in North Carolina. Due to the distance between her home in Harford County, Maryland and Duke, she had to find a local oncologist that would agree to treat and follow her. We were very fortunate to have GBMC agree to take her as a patient. <br> <br> Dr. Gary Cohen began a care and treatment program in late fall of 2011, which continues to this day. I can't think of a more professional, brilliant, courteous and kind man than Dr. Cohen. He has taken such good care of my daughter, and has been a huge champion in her welfare as she fights to live the most normal life possible. My son-in-law is at every appointment with my daughter and it is obvious that Dr. Cohen doesn't just treat my daughter, he is very concerned and attentive to the well-being of my son-in-law as well. <br> <br> I never thought that physicians were great at treating and caring for the entire family unit, but it's apparent that Dr. Cohen is not the average physician, by any measure. He is calm, very kind, dedicated, and continually goes beyond the scope of a physician. He has always been prompt and available after his normal business hours, which has been very reassuring to both my daughter and her husband. <br> <br> As for the Emergency Department staff, that too, has been more than amazing. My daughter has had the best care and treatment from the understanding physicians, nurses, radiology team and supporting staff members. It seems they remember her as she has unfortunately landed in the ED on several occasions over the past three years. <br> <br> She has been on the oncology floor as an inpatient on several occasions. The care and treatment she received there was amazing. They are true professionals and have been so kind and caring. Their attitude and ethic has made her long stays endurable. <br> <br> On a couple of occasions, my daughter has had care and treatment by a few other physicians at GBMC. They are as follows: Dr. Michael Sellman, Division Chief of Neurology; Dr. Niraj Jani, Chief, Digestive Disease Division and Dr. Marc Dubin, Otolaryngology Specialist. Again, these physicians are tremendously kind, caring and experts in their respective fields. Collectively, they have given my daughter the best care and shown the most concern of any physician we have dealt with on a local level. <div class="split"> <figure class="image-left"> <img class="" src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/847cfcad633d79b5ac1cee3612631104.jpg" alt="Katie with Dr. Michael Sellman"> <figcaption> Katie with Dr. Michael Sellman </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/fcac54c0e4c87da82a62f5a88722e97d.jpg" alt="Katie at the infusion center"> <figcaption> Katie, with her always positive attitude in the Infusion Center. </figcaption> </figure> </div> <br> <br> During my daughter's course of treatment she received IV chemotherapy for two years. Every other Friday she would visit the GBMC Infusion Center and stay for hours. An amazing group of kind nurses and support staff work there. Calling my daughter by her first name and taking away the normal fears that any cancer patient would experience was first class all the way. <br> <br> I'm not too sure where my family would be without the care and treatment my daughter has received from GBMC. We are happy to report that my daughter, Katie, beat all odds! She is a full-time nurse and working on a medical surgical floor in a Harford county hospital. In just a couple of days, Katie will celebrate being brain tumor-free for two years. Her past MRI scans show no tumor re-growth and she has regained her vision back. <br> <br> Thank you to all of the staff and support teams at GBMC for all of your care and help with what has been the most difficult time of Katie's life. We continue to seek out treatment at GBMC and return for continued monitoring of Katie's brain in hopes that she remains a healthy, happy and productive member of society. <br> <br> Lastly, I can't think of anywhere in the Maryland area that would provide such care and genuine concern to a fragile, complex and frightened young lady diagnosed with a brain tumor. GBMC stands high on my list as the very best hospital. My daughter is alive, working full-time and is brain tumor-free as of March 8, 2013. I have so much to be thankful for...thank you GBMC!!! <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
GBMC’s Cleft Lip and Palate Team ensures a normal life for young boy For first-time mother-to-be Vipra Patel, the term “cleft lip and palate” was just something she’d heard about happening to others. But, during an ultrasound midway through her pregnancy, she was shocked to learn that her growing baby would be born with the condition. This is her story, in her own words. In May 2011, like any new parents-to-be, my husband, Rakesh, and I were excited and ready to meet our new bundle of joy. It didn’t cross our minds that something might be wrong. But during an ultrasound, it was clear that our first son, Kian, would be born with a cleft upper lip and palate. Before Kian was born, Rakesh and I met with GBMC’s Cleft Lip and Palate Team, including surgeons, speech language pathologists, a geneticist and genetic counselor, dietitians and a pediatrician, to find out what this meant for our son and what we’d need to do to prepare ourselves to care for him. We learned that cleft lip and palate, which is caused by abnormal facial development during the early months of pregnancy, is the most common birth defect in the U.S. Babies with the condition are born with a gap in the roof of the mouth and opening in the lip. In addition to affecting a child’s facial appearance, it also impacts his or her ability to eat and develop speech skills. Rakesh and I really appreciated having such a comprehensive team of experts readily available. We were already nervous enough about becoming parents for the first time and thinking about the possible difficulties our son might go through was overwhelming at times. Amy Kimball, ScM, was especially helpful throughout my pregnancy, patiently answering our many questions and reassuring us that we would quickly learn to care for our baby’s special needs. Immediately after Kian was delivered, a consultant from the team arrived to teach us the best feeding methods and different strategies for handling some of the challenges associated with babies who have palate issues. Pediatric geneticist Antonie Kline, MD, FAAP, even assessed Kian and performed a chromosome study to determine if he would possibly have any other developmental problems later in life (fortunately, the study indicated that he is normal). Kian and his mom at a recent checkup with pediatrician Julie Yeh, MD, a member of GBMC’s Cleft Lip and Palate Team. For the best outcomes, Kian’s doctors said that he would need surgery within his first few months of life. Although it was scary, the team assured us that everything would be OK. They even arranged for us to meet a little girl who had her cleft palate repaired at GBMC to help ease our minds. Kian had his first successful cosmetic surgery to correct his cleft lip when he was just three months old. His surgeons, Randolph Capone, MD, FACS, and Patrick Byrne, MD, FACS, did such a great job that you can hardly even tell! We’re now preparing for his second surgery, which will correct his cleft palate. This is the most important procedure of all, as it will dramatically improve his feeding ability as well as his speech development. Rakesh and I are so grateful for the entire team! We know we are not alone in this journey, and they will be looking out for us from start to finish. We also take great comfort in knowing that Kian will have as normal a life as any other child thanks to the exceptional care he received at GBMC. For more information about GBMC’s Cleft Lip and Palate Team, visit www.gbmc.org/cleft or call 443-849-GBMC (4262). Expert Help at GBMC GBMC’s Cleft Lip and Palate Team provides interdisciplinary medical expertise to families of children with birth defects involving the head and neck, including cleft lip/cleft palate, Pierre-Robin sequence, microtia, microphthalmia, facial asymmetry and other, rarer malformations. Providing a spectrum of care from initial diagnosis and treatment (surgery and/or therapy) to maintenance of body systems, tending to psychosocial and future reproductive needs, the team can begin working with families as early as pregnancy, when some birth defects may be diagnosed. The relationship continues on from the birth of the baby to adolescence and early adulthood. With GBMC’s group of craniofacial experts, patients and their families receive a team approach to comprehensive, coordinated care. Additionally, the team’s geneticists can provide both the immediate family and the extended family with information about the causes of and recurrence risks for the patient's birth defect.
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-ag4i1QtvAA" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> <em>GBMC's medical team and services have made a difference in their lives. This is the story of Grayson Hundt, a former Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patient who continues to beat the odds regardless of what comes his way. His story is told by his father, Michael Hundt.</em> <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/f3fa50d72cfe8017472248b674cbd4b6.jpg" alt="Grayson Hundt, soon after birth"> <figcaption> Grayson Hundt, soon after birth </figcaption> </figure> Grayson's story is a long one. On March 28, 2014, my wife, Heather, entered GBMC in full labor at 23 weeks and 1 day into her pregnancy. I was in Boston at the time. She was told the baby would have less than a 35 percent chance of survival. He was born weighing 1 pound, 15 ounces and was sent to the NICU — where he was placed on a ventilator and into an incubator — immediately after birth. <br> <br> While in the NICU, Grayson was diagnosed with a stage 3 and 4 bleed on the right and left side of the brain, respectively. His condition was so severe that on several nights we were told there was nothing more the GBMC staff could do, and that Grayson might not make it to the morning. Somehow, he always did. He was at GBMC from March 28 to August 11, and when he left the NICU, he had two chest tubes, a ventilator for two months, three surgeries, countless scans, X-rays, blood work, approximately 22 blood transfusions and other tests. <br> <br> The first night in the NICU, Corin was Grayson's nurse. His entire body looked like one big bruise and his eyes were still closed. He continued to try to breathe on his own despite the ventilator. Corin kept saying he was a fighter, "just like 'Rocky,'" and the nickname stuck. <figure class="image-left-small"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/f94b4a75bece37aafc7884ad42c6e77d.jpg" alt="Grayson's mom gets to hold him for the first time"> <figcaption> Grayson's mom gets to hold him for the first time </figcaption> </figure> <br> <br> Every single member of the GBMC family that we encountered during Grayson's stay was special. The nurses and NICU staff became family to us - they cried when we cried, laughed when we laughed and were there when we needed a hug. The doctors were the most caring that I have ever encountered - Dr. Sabah Helou and Dr. Kendall Jenkins included, and Dr. Maria Pane in particular. My wife and I truly believe that Grayson is with us today because of Dr. Pane. There were times when she sat with us and prayed over Grayson. One night, after we had been told that Grayson may not make it until morning, we decided to have him baptized by his grandfather. Dr. Pane joined us. <br> <br> On August 11, 2014, Grayson was transferred to Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital. He was treated for electrolyte imbalances and was there for two months. We were finally able to bring him home in October and he was sent home with a G tube, feeding pump, oxygen and at least 11 prescription drugs. <br> <br> Grayson is now off of the oxygen, and has the G tube for night feedings only with a plan in place to stop soon. He no longer needs three of his medications and he weighs 14 pounds, 8 ounces. He makes a lot of noises, which always makes us happy. He has physical therapy and occupational therapy at home once a week and clinical appointments a few times a month. Grayson is now 16 months old, with an adjusted age of 11 months. In the next couple of months, we will start to see if there are signs of cerebral palsy or any other issues from his early birth. <br> <br> Grayson is one of six children and Heather and I decided from the beginning that he will live a normal life despite any issues. We feel so much better sleeping at night since Grayson came home and we do everything we can as a family. Heather and I have five daughters: one is a special education teacher, two daughters are in college, and we have an eight-year-old and a six-year-old. Each one of our kids is different in his or her own way and it is great to be a part of that. We love being parents to our wonderful children, Chelsea, Nicole, Kelsey, Jordin, Micaela and Grayson. <br> <br> <div class="split"> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/6e0edb441a7c943e18631604ef934b74.jpg" alt="Little man finally gets to go home"> <figcaption> Little man finally gets to go home </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/1c7b046e8e5c291ec1b6151660a73511.jpg" alt="Celebrating his 1st birthday with one of his favorite nurses"> <figcaption> Celebrating his 1st birthday with one of his favorite nurses </figcaption> </figure> </div> Because of GBMC, we still have our only son, and we couldn't be more grateful. As word spread about Grayson, he was added to prayer lists around the world. A stranger named Kyle sent this lovely poem, which now hangs on Grayson's bedroom wall as a reminder of his strength. Our family would like to share it with you. <br> <br> <em>I may be tiny, but I am strong <br> I will not question what's right or wrong <br> Focused, committed, resolved <br> A puzzle for life, needing to be solved <br> Through the night, into the day <br> My name is Grayson, and I am here <br> to stay!</em>
