Pediatric Gastroenterology (GI)

Siblings with cystic fibrosis share a special bond

Sebastian, or "Bash," as his family and friends call him, is an active young boy who makes friends easily, says what’s on his mind and is the happiest when he’s swimming or running around with friends. He recently joined the track team and was determined to do his absolute best – even if he was the smallest and youngest competitor in the field.

Comprehensive CF care helps Quincy thrive

When Sadie was pregnant with her daughter, Quincy, all signs pointed to a happy and healthy baby. So when Quincy's pediatrician informed her family that an abnormality had shown up on her newborn screening, it took everyone by surprise.

Miloh enjoys an active childhood after a liver transplant

Megan had what most would consider a textbook pregnancy with her firstborn son, Miloh. Though he spent several hours in the NICU after delivery because of fluid in his lungs, he was soon back in the hospital room with his mom and went home just a few days later, happy and healthy.

Innovative GI care provides life-changing relief from chronic vomiting

Despite his family's and GI doctor's best efforts, Vance continued to throw up multiple times a day and struggled to gain weight. For April, dealing with the mess – and the rude stares that often came with it – simply became part of her new normal.

Klara's bravery through cystic fibrosis makes her a real-life superhero

When Misti was pregnant with her daughter, Klara, her obstetrician noticed a cloudy spot on Klara's small intestine during a routine ultrasound. Misti's doctor informed her that there was a chance Klara would be born with cystic fibrosis (CF), an inherited genetic condition that affects mucus production in the lungs and digestive tract, and suggested that both Misti and her husband, Richard, undergo genetic screening. The test confirmed that both Misti and Richard were CF carriers, which meant there was a 25% chance that Klara would be born with the condition.

Collaborative care ensures a bright future for a patient with ulcerative colitis

Sophia is a happy 7-year-old who enjoys singing, dancing and any chance to express herself through art. To most, she appears to be an easygoing child with an unbridled joy for life and a passion for performing – and for all intents and purposes, she truly is. But Sophia is also managing a chronic illness that once threatened to rob her of her carefree childhood and health. Fortunately, she and her family found the support and answers they needed at Children's Health℠ to help Sophia grow and thrive into the superstar she is now.

A multidisciplinary care team helps Carson overcome critical health challenges

When Carson was born, nearly everything he ate made him sick. His mom, Stephanie, tried 10 different baby formulas before she finally found one that worked. His pediatrician suspected he was suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a blood test soon determined Carson was also allergic to five different foods.

Born with biliary atresia, Cooper thrives under the care of liver experts at Children's Health

When Cooper was 2 weeks old, he began showing signs of jaundice, a common condition in which a newborn's skin appears yellow due to increased levels of bilirubin in their blood. Typically, the condition improves as the baby's liver begins functioning as it should. However, when Cooper's symptoms persisted at his 2-month check-up, his pediatrician suggested they check his blood levels to determine the cause.

Ava and her family find support for a rare GI condition

When Sarah and Brandon found out they were expecting their first child, they were overjoyed. At 35 weeks, Ava Jewell was born via emergency C-section after the placenta detached. Sarah and Brandon spent the first 24 hours getting to know their baby girl, but on Ava's second day of life, warning signs emerged. Ava had not passed any bowel movements and was vomiting bile.

Managing her EoE isn't easy, but Bella refuses to give up

Bella is the modern version of a Renaissance (wo)man. She's a high school junior who excels in academics and manages the school wrestling team. She has a close-knit group of friends and family, was recently promoted at her job and is a talented vocalist who is teaching herself to play guitar. She is also in the midst of a life-changing search for answers as she manages a chronic illness that has knocked her down several times in her life – but Bella refuses to give up.

Preston finds relief from Crohn's disease at Children's Health

Preston has always been happy and extremely active. He enjoys playing sports and video games and spending time with friends. So when he began experiencing severe stomach pains and losing a considerable amount of weight in the summer of 2016, his parents suspected something might be seriously wrong. Preston was 11 at the time.

Sisters share a common bond and strength as they live with cystic fibrosis

Sisters Melissa and Makayla have a lot in common. The 11- and 8-year-olds are both passionate about performing, enjoy riding bikes and love playing with their three-legged rescue dog named Amethyst. They also both have cystic fibrosis.

Living with chronic constipation: How one girl went from surviving to thriving

For most people, going to the bathroom comes naturally. But for one little girl and her family it was anything but easy.

A second opinion at Children's Health provides answers for a patient living with Crohn's disease

When Nolan was just 8 years old, he and his brother were chasing each other around the house when all of a sudden he grabbed his stomach, bent over and yelled out in pain. His mom Tina, who happened to be in the room at the time, asked him what was wrong, but Nolan just shrugged it off. After suggesting he try to use the bathroom, Tina discovered that Nolan was having abnormal bowel movements and had been for quite some time.

After a celiac diagnosis, a family adapts and a young girl thrives

Hailey wants to be a doctor someday, and she has the pink scrubs to prove it. She loves wearing them around her house and recently informed her mom, Shauna, that she'll pay extra close attention in school so she can learn what she needs to know. Given Hailey's early health experiences, it's no surprise that the kindergartner wants to help others when she grows up.

22q doesn’t diminish Molly's joy

Before starting kindergarten in August 2018, Molly spent the summer traveling with her family, swimming, spending time in the country with her grandparents and playing dress-up with her big sister. She loves her big sister, ice cream and dogs. Seeing her, you would never guess that her earliest days were spent at Children's Medical Center Dallas.

Cutting edge surgery helps teen with gastroparesis return to normal life

At 15 years old, Hunter was busy making the most of high school. He played multiple sports, did well in classes and enjoyed spending time with his friends. So when the normally healthy teen started feeling nauseous on his way to a wrestling tournament in 2016, he and his mom just assumed he had caught some type of stomach virus.

A mother finds answers & treatment for her infant daughter with IBD

When her daughter, Amy, was just 5 months old, Michele noticed blood in Amy's stool while changing her diaper. Amy's pediatrician suspected a milk allergy and instructed Michele, who was exclusively breastfeeding Amy at the time, to cut all dairy from her diet. When Amy's symptoms worsened, her family was referred to a gastroenterologist in Fort Worth. A colonoscopy revealed that baby Amy had ulcers in her colon.

Hepatitis C clinical trial cures 6-year-old girl

Amy Ray loves toys, gymnastics, reading and coloring. The 6-year-old dreams big, takes care of her pets and enjoys adventures on her family's boat.

An active teen manages his ulcerative colitis and prepares for adulthood

When Josh was 13, he and a handful of his teammates got sick during a soccer tournament in Asheville, North Carolina. But while his friends easily recovered, Josh's symptoms worsened drastically over the next three weeks, causing him to miss school and lose a significant amount of weight.

A young boy with celiac finds support at Children's Health

Caleb is a joyful 6-year-old who loves LEGO, all-things-Disney and his dog Sebastian. He wants to be a firefighter when he grows up so he can help people, and his mom, Sarah, a pediatrician, describes him as "one of the kindest people I've ever met." Like many other families, Caleb and his family enjoy pizza and movie nights most weekends with just one exception – Caleb's homemade pizza is gluten free, a necessity since he was diagnosed three years ago with celiac disease.

A teen's long journey leads to hope and helping others with Crohn's

For Maddie, art has always been a much-needed outlet to manage life's stresses. Whether drawing to decompress after a challenging day at school or painting her way through the pressures of being a teenager, her artistic passions have helped her through some difficult times – including living with Crohn's disease, a battle she has fought for nearly a decade.

Help for a hidden disorder: a young girl’s battle with cyclic vomiting syndrome

Imagine throwing up three or more times an hour, for days at a time, and reliving that experience every two months for no apparent reason. Add to that severe nausea and excessive sweating along with pain, dizziness, light sensitivity and headaches, and you have a peek inside Jasmin's world. Jasmin is 12 years old and has a gastrointestinal condition called cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS).

A little girl with celiac disease finds healing through changes in her diet

Hadley had always experienced trouble sleeping and intermittent stomach pain, but it never really concerned her pediatrician because she was still growing and gaining weight. However, by the time she turned 7 years old, her parents decided it was time to figure out what was going on. Her father had recently been diagnosed with celiac disease so Hadley's parents thought it was a good idea to rule it out, since the disease can be hereditary. They were living in Arizona at the time so they visited their local pediatric hospital for blood work and an endoscopy. Both confirmed that Hadley had celiac disease, just like her dad.

A patient facing severe GI issues gets answers and gains confidence

Mark is a happy middle schooler who likes playing basketball and hanging out with friends. However, an intestinal condition once prevented him from enjoying these everyday activities. Mark's parents, Jessica and Mitch, had spent years searching for a solution that would improve their son's quality of life before finally finding the answers and support they were looking for at Children's Health.

A young boy with EoE finds comprehensive care at Children's Health

Just before his fourth birthday, Liam began experiencing some gastroenterological issues. He had trouble keeping his food down and would often choke while eating, an issue his parents were familiar with since Liam had struggled with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, as a newborn.

A mom seeks and finds life-saving answers for her baby boy

When Barrett, who goes by Bear, was just 4 months old, his mom Jill noticed that he was getting sick a lot. He began grunting in pain and just didn't seem to act like a "normal" baby. She brought him to several doctors over the next few months, but no one seemed overly concerned.

A doctor's dedication and a patient's road to recovery

On Jan. 21, 2006, 21-month-old Brayden accidentally drank a caustic chemical. The chemical caused third degree burns to his mouth, esophagus and stomach. Brayden was rushed to a local hospital in Tyler, Texas, where he was sedated and put on a ventilator to help him breath. The medical team there contacted Children's Health℠, requesting help due to the serious nature of Brayden's injury.

A young GERD patient gets answers after 10 years

For the past 10 years, Gentiana and her family have searched for answers to chronic gastroenterological issues she has dealt with since birth. As an infant, Gentiana suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Since then, she has seen a number of pediatricians, and her symptoms included difficulty swallowing, an itchy throat, abdominal pain and poor appetite. Each time, her doctors prescribed medications to help relieve the symptoms, but the issues never really went away.

A brave girl overcomes a rare disease & gives back

When Brentlee, age 5, was born, all signs pointed to a happy and healthy baby. Her mother Amber carried her to full-term, her delivery went smoothly and she scored great on the Apgar assessment often performed on babies at birth. It wasn’t until she began having difficulties feeding that her mom first suspected something may be amiss.