Parent Blog: Ashley Feldman

In their words

Ashley Feldman
Wilton, Iowa

“We first became involved with University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital when our son Kolby needed surgery on a congenital birth defect. Kolby was born at 33 weeks at a local hospital. The NICU team attempted to place a nasogastric tube but weren’t able to get it to his stomach. They told us they suspected Kolby had esophageal atresia and would need to be transferred to the University to confirm the diagnosis and have surgery.

Kolby was transferred to UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital about 12 hours after he was born. The diagnosis was confirmed, and Kolby was scheduled for surgery the next day. They were able to repair his esophagus and trachea during the surgery. Kolby spent the next week sedated to allow his esophagus to heal together. He spent six weeks in the hospital recovering from his surgery and his premature birth.

He needed another surgery to repair hernias before he went home. Once he was bigger, they started casting to treat his club foot.

When we were expecting our daughter Hadley, they thought we should have our ultrasound at the high-risk clinic since Kolby had had the birth defect. During the ultrasound they were not able to visualize Hadley’s bladder. After several more ultrasounds they determined she would probably be born with bladder exstrophy.

We met with her pediatric urologist before she was born to discuss what surgery would entail and develop a treatment plan after she was born. Hadley was taken to the NICU after she was born and awaited surgery. She had surgery to repair her bladder and pelvis three days after she was born. Hadley’s bladder was repaired, and she was placed in a spica cast. Hadley stayed in the hospital for two and a half weeks. She had her spica cast on for six weeks and is recovering from surgery.

The UI pediatric urology department has been amazing during this whole process with Hadley. Dr. Storm and his team have been extremely helpful and reassuring. He took the time to answer all of our questions about surgery, even when we weren’t sure if Hadley had exstrophy yet. He has been easily accessible since we came home and quickly answers all our questions. We are incredibly thankful for Dr. Storm and his team and the care they have given Hadley.

UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital has been amazing to our family. They have helped us bring home both of our children. The entire staff is incredibly helpful and willing to answer questions. The nurses make you feel like they are part of your family and that they care about your child as much as you do. The staff was so reassuring in some of the scariest times.”