Our little girl, Morris Ada Hamilton, was born April 22, 2025. From the moment she arrived, she has faced many challenges. She was immediately placed on oxygen and fluids for 16 hours after inhaling and swallowing amniotic fluid. After doing great and recovering, she started having trouble with feeding. First, it was issues with latch and muscle strength, and then it was issues with choking and vomiting. She has had tremendous difficulty gaining weight.
After two weeks of continued struggle with feeding and many doctor’s appointments at our local pediatrician's office, we noticed she was not breathing well during feeds and she was taken via ambulance from Watauga ER to Brenner’s Children’s Hospital where she was admitted for 4 days.
After many, many tests like echocardiogram, ultrasound of the heart, kidneys, bladder (this was due to her having kidney issues in utero), and swallowing tests, it was discovered that she has dysphagia. Dysphagia is a swallowing disorder in which she has difficulty swallowing formula. This impacts growth and development. It took us so long to get the right help we needed we are weeks behind in growth.
Morris was also born with positional talipes in both of her feet. We have had one appointment with a pediatric orthopedic so far where we actually learned it was most likely positional and not congenital. She may require casting and specialized boots known as the Ponseti Method.
Due to all the concerns, we were advised to have her tested for any chromosomal abnormalities. After weeks of waiting, we have the results and she does not have any abnormalities. That has been such an important piece of the puzzle for us.
Since we have been discharged from Brenner's, things improved for a few days, and we are now experiencing a regression with her eating. She is slowly reaching goals and ever day has been a rollercoaster.
We understand that this may be a long road ahead. We have a lot to still figure out.
We are already experiencing a lot of financial stress and burden. Morris has health insurance through my job at Appalachian State. We have the Aetna State Health Plan.
So far, the copays alone are adding up quickly to be more than we can afford right now. We haven’t gotten our bill from our stay at Brenner's and will update that as soon as we get it.
The multiple tests, doctor visits, specialist visits, ambulance ride from Boone to Winston, possible need for orthopedic intervention for her feet, the genetic testing, and weekly occupational therapy, we are drowning.
In addition, we have to travel from Boone to Winston-Salem for all of our appointments. Currently, with her dysphagia still not managed, it’s really scary to drive an hour and a half without Dave or a support person sitting beside her in the backseat.
Morris is also on a hypoallergenic formula as well thickener that is more expensive than most: Similac Alimentum.
Dave has had to miss work to be there for his family.
We don’t know what lies ahead but we would be grateful for any monetary support to help us navigate this hopefully short-lived time of stress in our lives.
Having all this happen at once has been so difficult.
I will continue to post updates.