Fan Mail

Michael Caty, MD with the Roland Family

All, Thanks to Children’s!

On Saturday, August 8, 2009, the Roland Family hosted the 7th Annual “For Kids Sake - FUNdrai$er!” to benefit Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. The day and event also marked another special occasion as it celebrated the 8th birthday of their son, Nicholas. FKS was the brain child of the Roland’s, founded in response to a life changing episode that occurred in November 2002, when Nicholas was just 15 months old and an inpatient for 12 days, undergoing two surgical procedures at W&CHOB… fortunately life saving! To date the For Kids Sake FUNdrai$ers raised over $35,000 with a 10 year goal of hitting $50,000. Ironically, Nicholas was aptly named for the Patron Saint of Children and after the youngest boy in the TV show “Eight is Enough.” Since that fateful fall of 2002, Nicholas has been blessed with a lovely sister Alexandra, now age five, and he has experienced no related health set-backs. Furthermore, Nick has really excelled at school and in sports. This past year, Nick received all O’s and A’s in the second grade at Akron Elementary School and played on the following sports teams: Akron AA All-Star Baseball, Akron U10 travel baseball, Akron little league football, Buffalo Regals travel hockey, and Akron U10 travel soccer.

All, Thanks to Children’s!
The Roland Family

Meet the Paul Family

At 22 weeks/6 days (5/9/08) my water broke, so we went to Women & Children’s Hospital where they put me on strict bed rest on the 5th floor, a place we called home for 4 weeks until I started having contractions on 6/5. Twin A’s heart rate went down and they quickly did an emergency C-Section. The boys made their appearance on 6/6/08 (at 26 weeks/6 days). Ryder weighed 1lb 14oz, 13-1/2 inches long and Landon weighed 2lbs 4oz, 14 inches long.

Ryder was a very sick little boy. He was on the oscillator along with steroids and nitric oxide. He fought the machines, so they had to sedate him. The worst day of my life is when the respiratory therapist said "I don't know what else to do for him." After that we talked to Dr. Anne Marie Reynolds, and she said he could go either way at that point. A few days later Dr. Reynolds thought maybe the PIC line was Ryder’s problem, but no tests or x-rays would confirm that. So they tried it. Within 2 days Ryder was taken off the oscillator (after just over 1 month of being on it) and put on a conventional ventilator. That seemed to be his turning point. No one could explain why he got better…I know in my heart that God worked his miracle through Dr. Reynolds. We got to hold our oldest boy on 7/24/08. We had a few more ups and downs during our stay, but nothing compared to what we had already been through. Ryder spent 99 days in the NICU before he came home to his mommy, daddy and brother.

Paul & Kim Berghorn with Ryder and Landon

Anthony & Kim Paul with Ryder and Landon

Landon’s rollercoaster seemed to be much smoother than his brother, but he still had his fair share of ups and downs. We had some infections and he had a little trouble going from the conventional vent to the Si-Pap. Landon was probably the one that helped keep our spirits up through it all. We got to hold our youngest son for the first time on 7/3/08…I think that was the first day that I felt like a mom. Landon was our baby of firsts…he was the 1st to touch, hold, dress, bottle feed and bathe. Landon spent 72 days in the NICU before coming home.

Landon came home on August 16th and Ryder on September 12th. They both were on monitors and oxygen until they officially came off on November 3rd. So far we have been blessed…no major illnesses or problems to report. They have been discharged from all specialists. The only help they are receiving at this point is Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.

It was one heck of a rollercoaster, one that I hope we never have to go through again…but with God's help, Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo saved my babies lives. My husband and I are forever grateful.

The Pauls