Hudson’s persistent symptoms of pain, feeding difficulties, and faltering growth left his mother, Heather, and her husband, searching for an explanation.
Hudson’s condition had taken a toll on the family’s daily life. Heather shares, “Hudson would cry and be unsettled for numerous hours in a day. He would throw up his formula, and we had tried seven different types, hoping one would make a difference.” The constant vomiting made it nearly impossible to leave the house, and Heather had to resign from her 18-year career in Special Education to focus on her son’s care. Every day was a struggle, but Heather’s unwavering dedication and advocacy for her son never wavered.
Determined to find answers, Heather and her husband reached out to multiple healthcare providers. It wasn’t until a CT scan at 6 months revealed brain swelling due to severe malnutrition that the true extent of Hudson’s condition became clear. “Prior to that our pediatrician consistently believed that it was just reflux,” shares Heather, “but as his mother I knew that I wasn’t satisfied with that answer. I changed to a new pediatrician, Dr. Raul Alvarez, and he diagnosed Hudson with many conditions, and we were referred to Nemours Children’s. Dr. Alvarez was wonderful and provided us with the guidance we needed.”
It was Dr. Alvarez, who referred the family to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, a significant turning point in Hudson’s journey. There, a multidisciplinary team of specialists took over Hudson’s care. The hospital’s comprehensive approach meant that Hudson was seen by neurosurgeons, gastrointestinal specialists, and other experts who worked together to address his complex needs. Hudson received essential medications and underwent detailed imaging to monitor his condition, guided by his extensive care team, which included gastroenterologist Dr. Piyali Ray, neurosurgeon Dr. Greg Olavarria, neurology APRN Angela Rivett, registered dietitian Aimee Molineaux, emergency medicine APRN Amanda Webb, registered dietitian Jessica Dart, neurologist Dr. Ju Tang, and speech language pathologist Yadiris Cruz-Mangual.
“My favorite thing about them was that they listened to me as I cried with worry about my son’s health,” says Heather. “They didn’t skip a beat in providing exceptional care for Hudson and getting him on the path to health.” Dr. Olavarria, Angela Rivett, Dr. Piyali Ray, and Yadiris Cruz-Mangual were particularly noteworthy in Hudson’s care, their expertise and compassion leaving a lasting impact on the family. “They were incredible to us!” Heather exclaims.
Thanks to the unwavering support and advanced treatments at Nemours, Hudson’s progress has been nothing short of remarkable. He is now 16 months old, weighs 21 pounds, and his brain is no longer swollen. The family is overjoyed to see Hudson truly thriving.
To other families navigating similar medical journeys, Dr. Ray offers this message of encouragement, “Hope is being able to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Compassion is a verb; practice it! True compassion means not only feeling another’s pain but also being moved to help relieve it. Compassion is not a virtue – it’s a commitment. It’s not something we have or don’t have – it’s something we choose to practice.” Reflecting on their journey, Heather shares this heartfelt advice, “Don’t waste any time in getting your child the proper doctors. Nemours changed our life for the best and they cared so much about Hudson, and our family. Nemours has amazing doctors, and they will move mountains for your child. Please advocate for your children because there are doctors that will listen and do right by your children. We are so grateful for the exemplary care Nemours gave to us and for the opportunity for our family to have a healthy child! Thank you, Nemours, you will always hold a special place in our hearts because you brought Hudson to health.”
