Meet Amy D., Parent Mentor at Akron Children's
Amy's Story
Nathan was born one month premature with a rare genetic anomaly. We were referred to Genetics by St. Elizabeth NICU, for further guidance. At 1, Nathan only weighed 12 pounds, so we were referred to Gastroenterology for failure to thrive. At 18 months, he had surgery for a G-tube - which he still has at 14. At 2, he had a tonsillectomy and tubes put in his ears. Post surgery, his lungs collapsed and we spent 73 days in the PICU. Nathan had a tracheostomy for 4 years and was ventilator dependent for 2 years. At age 4, Nathan became septic from an unknown infection, from which he has never fully physically recovered. Prior to this he, was weight bearing and sitting independently. Due to his cerebral palsy, Nathan has developed neuromuscular scoliosis which has progressed rapidly over the past few years as he has entered his teens. Even with all of these hurdles, Nathan is a happy, joyful, belly-laughing young man who loves Taylor Swift & Zac Brown Band. We are so blessed and grateful for the wonderful care he has received from Akron Children's.
Amy is a parent mentor for these conditions: Avoidant-food Restrictive Food Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Scoliosis, Unbalanced Autosome Translocation.
Amy is a mentor for these care services: Asthma, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, Ear Nose Throat (ENT), Endocrine, Feeding and Nutrition, Gastroenterology, Genetic Syndromes, Infectious Disease, Nephrology, Neurology, Orthopedics, Palliative Care, Pulmonary, Surgery, Trach / Ventilator, Urology
