Talia Loeb
TrachKid Profile
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Name: Talia Amanda Loeb
Date of Birth: 4/4/98 (32 wk preemie twin)
Diagnoses: Congenital tracheal stenosis, duodenal atresia, cross-fused ectopic kidney with vesicoureteral reflux, gastroesophageal reflux with GT, asthma.
History: Talia was diagnosed prenatally with duodenal atresia. This led to accumulation of amniotic fluid and preterm labor. Ultimately she was born at 32 weeks gestation, 3-1/2 lbs, due to premature rupture of membranes. Within an hour of birth, she developed stridor and was intubated. At 2 days of age, she underwent repair of her intestinal obstruction, GT placement, and had a bronchoscopy which confirmed the diagnosis of congenital subglottic tracheal stenosis. Subsequent workup revealed a right cross fused ectopic kidney with vesicoureteral reflux. She extubated herself at 3 weeks of age (she's a tough cookie!) and was ultimately discharged from the NICU at 8 weeks of age. At 3 months of age she was found to have signs of chronic respiratory failure (elevated carbon dioxide) and the trach was placed. Since then, she has been diagnosed with asthma as well. She is a happy, wonderful baby but takes minimal food by mouth (mostly GT fed) because of GER and trach associated swallowing difficulties. The plan is for a tracheal reconstruction later this year. She has a healthy twin, Courtney, and a 4 year old brother, Matthew.
Update - May 2001: After two tracheoplasties (August 1999 and July 2000), Talia was successfully decannulated in July of 2000. That was a harrowing month for us - she was on the ventilator and endotracheally intubated for 3 weeks. We think is was her sheer will that allowed the trach to remain out! After a narcotic taper that would have stopped an addict in their tracks, we had our Talia back to her perky, stubborn self! She is now learning to eat (a slow frustrating process) and starts preschool in the fall with her twin, Courtney.
Laura Finkelstein, mom and David Loeb, dad
LHFmd@aol.com
History
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- Member for
- 4 years 6 weeks
Location
- Country
- United States
- State/Province
- Maryland
