Hear me roar: A mother hunts down answers for her son

If it’s true that raising boys is not for the fainthearted, then Nicole Laws is truly lionhearted. A nurturer and a protector, beautiful and strong, this mother of four boys will hunt down the best solution to a problem … no matter what stands in her way. Mason was born on Jan. 28, 2011, in Syracuse, New York. A month premature, he struggled with eating and breathing, but Nicole wasn’t overly worried. “This was our fourth child. The first three had reflux, so I was thinking, ‘This will be a piece of cake!’” Mason was observed for a few days at the local hospital and sent home. Unfortunately, Mason’s issues persisted. Nicole and her husband Cliff had to hold their son in just the right position and give him frequent breaks to feed him. Sleeping was a struggle, to say the least. “Mason couldn’t tolerate laying flat,” remembers Nicole. “He would sleep on top of me sitting in a chair — all night long.” We wouldn’t be where we are now if I didn’t push hard for answers and say ‘no’ when I felt something wasn’t right. ~ Nicole, Mason’s mom Searching for answers and being willing to say ‘no’ Every time Nicole consulted a local specialist with her concerns, she was told it was reflux. As an experienced mom, she knew it wasn’t that simple. Feeding was much more difficult for Mason than it was for her other boys — he coughed more, he choked more, he projectile vomited. When Mason was two months old, Nicole consulted a local otolaryng...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Center for Airway Disorders Dr. John Lee Dr. Rachel Rosen Dr. Reza Rahbar Dr. Umakanth Khatwa laryngeal cleft Source Type: news