Kaleb and Kaden Crooks

Kaleb and Kaden were born on December 16, 2008 at 34 weeks. Born at another local hospital. the staff realized Kaden was not having bowel movements and transferred him to Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s NICU. There pediatric doctors and medical equipment were readily available to better diagnose him.

There the doctors-began testing to find a diagnosis and a solution for Kaden’s medical issue. After eliminating almost every possibility, the surgeon, Dr. Robie, decided to take Kaden to surgery. In surgery he discovered Kaden had a narrowing in his bowel causing an obstruction. He removed a small section of his bowel and Kaden recovered in the NICU. He was able to come home February 7, 2009. Eight months later Kaden returned to Wolfson due to a bowel obstruction caused by scar tissue that developed in his bowel. Again he was taken to surgery to have the scar tissue removed and after a short stay was able to return home.

At 4-weeks-old Kaleb began throwing up a yellowish fluid and he would not stop. Immediately calling his pediatrician we were told to bring him straight to Wolfson Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Room. After he was admitted, Kaleb was still throwing up, and his parents realized the severity of his condition as his room became full of multiple doctors and other ER staff. Kaleb had become so sick so fast. The doctors started x-rays and studies to determine the cause of Kaleb’s sudden illness.

A few hours later, and still uncertain, Dr. Robie, decided to take him to emergecy surgery. He discovered Kaleb had a volvulus; his intestine had twisted completely over itself causing a complete obstruction. If he recovered he was sure to lose some if not all of his small bowel. Admitted into the PICU, his family felt·helpless. He had so many tubes and monitors that they could not hold him. Nurses sat at his bedside 24 hours for moniting.

As Kaleb began to recover in the PICU, he had 3 more surgeries, after his final surgery he had lost most of his small bowel. He would now be dependent on IV nutrition and g-tube feeds. The nurses and staff were exceptional and helped his family nurture Kaleb back to health. Kaleb’s still returns to Wolfson Children’s Hospital on a frequent basis with continued special needs.

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