Parent Blog: Erin and Ryan McGovern

In their words

Erin and Ryan McGovern 
Dubuque, Iowa

We first became involved with University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital during pregnancy with Cade. Ultrasounds showed multiple abnormalities and we were told he most likely would not survive.

We had a C-section scheduled at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, but Cade was born four days earlier in Dubuque. He was transferred shortly after to the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where he stayed for 19 days.

Including his NICU stay, Cade spent close to 100 nights at UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Some stays have been for respiratory illnesses, some for uncontrolled seizures. Cade has been diagnosed with epilepsy; lissencephaly – a condition in which his brain is missing the normal folds and his head is small; and a condition called Pierre Robin sequence, characterized by a small lower jaw, a tongue placed farther back in the mouth, and blockage of the airways.

He has had three surgeries: one to place a feeding tube and two jaw surgeries with oral and maxillofacial surgery. The first jaw surgery was a mandibular distraction, which lengthened his lower jaw. This surgery was a life saver for Cade. He had been unable to lie on his back or sit up. In these positions he would stop breathing because his tongue would block his airway. Since the first surgery he has not had a problem. The second jaw surgery was to remove the distraction device.

We continue to have follow-ups with gastroenterology, neurology, cardiology, otolaryngology, and orthopedics. His specialists have been pivotal in helping us provide Cade with the best quality of life possible.

UI Stead Family Children's Hospital has always made sure we're comfortable with Cade's care plan and provided us with whatever we need during our stays and visits. We have never doubted that they have Cade's best interest in mind and are always trying to provide the level of care that will give Cade and our family the best quality of life possible. We would recommend UI Stead Family Children's Hospital and its doctors and nurses to anyone!