Izabella was born 6 weeks early on Good Friday 2015. They told us 3 weeks earlier that she would possibly need surgery on her intestines because they found a blockage on the ultrasound. The day after she was born she was rushed into emergency surgery. 3 1/2 hours later, Dr. King came out and told us that she had 18 bowel blockages that they could count. He said it looked like sausage links and that it was a mess and she would have to have several more surgeries. Two weeks went by and they started to feed the intestine that was fixed so it could get strong. Four more weeks went by… The second surgery lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes. Dr. King was able to repair all that he could and was able to save roughly 1/3 of her bowel. A few days later she started to be fed through her mouth and her feeding tube. The milk that went through her mouth went into her stomach and out her jejunostomy bag and the milk through her feeding tube went to the repaired bowel and out her rectum. Two weeks went by and her liver counts were not looking good so they decided to do the third surgery. This one lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes. They completely connected her bowel and placed a feeding tube through her stomach. When they started to feed her it was a slow process but she was a trooper and broke records. They told us she would be in the hospital a long time to get her feeds to where she was gaining weight and progressing at a normal speed. With God’s help she surpassed all of their expectations and we were out of the hospital in less than 6 weeks after her 3rd surgery. She went home with a feeding tube and lots of medicine. Just one week after being at home we were able to turn the pump off during the day and she was able to breastfeed on demand. Maybe a week after that we were able to turn the pump off at night as well. Every checkup Dr. Balint would say she is doing amazing and couldn’t believe her progress. Her final surgery happens the day after thanksgiving to close her g-tube port. So Izabella is getting ready to turn 1 here in two weeks and she has no tubes and is a perfectly healthy 1 year old. I want to first thank God for his healing power and grace! Secondly thank you to her surgeon Dr. King and two GI Dr.’s Balint and Dienhart. And third and final thank you to the amazing nursing staff that had to put up with my husband who tells endless stores and me who was emotional and moody! Without God, the Drs and nursing staff Izabella Grace would be here healthy and celebrating her first birthday!

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• Name: Izabella S.Izabella Simmers
• Condition(s): Small bowel atresia
• Age at Treatment: Newborn
• Age Today: 04/03/20159 Years

Izabella was born 6 weeks early on Good Friday 2015. They told us 3 weeks earlier that she would possibly need surgery on her intestines because they found a blockage on the ultrasound. The day after she was born she was rushed into emergency surgery. 3 1/2 hours later, Dr. King came out and told us that she had 18 bowel blockages that they could count. He said it looked like sausage links and that it was a mess and she would have to have several more surgeries. Two weeks went by and they started to feed the intestine that was fixed so it could get strong. Four more weeks went by… The second surgery lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes. Dr. King was able to repair all that he could and was able to save roughly 1/3 of her bowel. A few days later she started to be fed through her mouth and her feeding tube. The milk that went through her mouth went into her stomach and out her jejunostomy bag and the milk through her feeding tube went to the repaired bowel and out her rectum. Two weeks went by and her liver counts were not looking good so they decided to do the third surgery. This one lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes. They completely connected her bowel and placed a feeding tube through her stomach. When they started to feed her it was a slow process but she was a trooper and broke records. They told us she would be in the hospital a long time to get her feeds to where she was gaining weight and progressing at a normal speed. With God’s help she surpassed all of their expectations and we were out of the hospital in less than 6 weeks after her 3rd surgery. She went home with a feeding tube and lots of medicine. Just one week after being at home we were able to turn the pump off during the day and she was able to breastfeed on demand. Maybe a week after that we were able to turn the pump off at night as well. Every checkup Dr. Balint would say she is doing amazing and couldn’t believe her progress. Her final surgery happens the day after thanksgiving to close her g-tube port. So Izabella is getting ready to turn 1 here in two weeks and she has no tubes and is a perfectly healthy 1 year old. I want to first thank God for his healing power and grace! Secondly thank you to her surgeon Dr. King and two GI Dr.’s Balint and Dienhart. And third and final thank you to the amazing nursing staff that had to put up with my husband who tells endless stores and me who was emotional and moody! Without God, the Drs and nursing staff Izabella Grace would be here healthy and celebrating her first birthday!