Three unforgettable weeks
Hours passed and still Jamie and Eric Toutenhoofd hadn't seen their new son.
Born a full-term baby on Feb. 25 in Grand Forks, he had unexpected, life-threatening problems.
"It was very scary, and it came as a total surprise," says Eric. "We kept asking, ‘What's going on? Why? What's next?' We were really glad to find out they were in contact with the people in Fargo because we'd heard they had a Children's Hospital there, but we didn't know much about it."
MeritCare LifeFlight quickly transported Luke to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at MeritCare Children's Hospital. While in the helicopter, he had exactly what he needed: a specially trained Neonatal Transport Team to provide high-level care en route and a ventilator to help him breathe. The transport ventilator is lifesaving technology for children of all ages who are in serious respiratory trouble, as Luke was.
The lifesaving transport ventilator is paid for with
Children's Miracle Network donations from the North Dakota and Minnesota Kiwanis Clubs and the Bushell Family Funds at the FM Area Foundation.
Specialized care provided by a team
Luke faced two serious sets of problems: respiratory and heart. Neonatologist
Dr. Waseem Altaf addressed the respiratory issues: "Because his condition was getting worse so quickly, it made it all the more important for him to be in a specialized children's care facility that offered the treatment he needed, including nitric oxide and high-frequency ventilation," he says. "Nitric oxide is just an excellent medication, but both technologies were equally important in stabilizing his respiratory function."
Nitric oxide, which is available at a limited number of facilities in the country, and high-frequency ventilation, which accommodates a baby's tiny lungs, are available at the NICU thanks to CMN support.
Pediatric cardiologist Dr. Rodrigo Rios addressed Luke's heart problems. One issue involved heart-racing episodes and the other a mild narrowing of the aorta. During Luke's three weeks in the NICU, Dr. Rios pinpointed the medication that best controlled the racing heart. As for the aortic obstruction, Dr. Rios expects it will likely not require intervention, but he'll monitor it at follow-up appointments at MeritCare East Grand Forks, where he sees patients at his pediatric cardiology outreach clinic.
So much to be thankful for
For Jamie and Eric, the three weeks Luke spent in the NICU at Children's Hospital were three weeks they'll never forget. Their faith, family and friends helped pull them through. "I'll look back at it as one of the hardest things in my life to get through, but I'll also look back and be thankful that we had a place like this in the region," says Eric. "I had no idea MeritCare Children's Hospital was so specialized, but now I know. My message is support MeritCare Children's Hospital. We're lucky it's here."
While both appreciated the highly specialized medical care Luke received, they also appreciated the kindness shown by the nurses. "One of the toughest things for me was leaving Luke at night, but it didn't take long for me to realize my baby was in good hands. Whatever he needed, even if it was just to be held and rocked, the nurses would be there for him," says Jamie. "I've told all my family that without MeritCare's services, we wouldn't have Luke because he probably would not have survived. It's just amazing how much they did for us."
As unexpected as Luke's health problems were, so was his stint as a radio star. He became a focal point in the 2003 Clear Channel Cares for Kids Radiothon, a fundraiser for MeritCare Children's Hospital. Today Luke is home with his mom, dad and 2-year-old brother. "We're all doing great," says Jamie.
Return to Front Page of Valley Health Journal.
Do you have comments or suggestions for Valley Health Journal? Email us.