Finding strength through adversity

By Anthony Matt

Where there’s a will, there’s a way. That’s just one way to describe 3-year-old Walter Duong’s outlook on life. Walter’s parents are Phoebe and Jeff, both 30, and this Duluth family has been “finding a way” since Phoebe found out she was pregnant.

“It was such an exciting day when we found out we were pregnant,” Phoebe said. “Jeff and I always knew we wanted kids and we were excited the time had come.”

Living in Oregon in 2018, Phoebe’s doctors diagnosed Walter with Treacher Collins syndrome prenatally. It’s a genetic condition that impacts the bones in the lower part of the jaw and ears. Walter consequently has hearing loss, wears hearing aids and has an undersized jaw that causes obstructive sleep apnea and requires him to have a tracheostomy tube. But he doesn’t let those things define who he is — a little boy, full of life.

“He loves to be outside,” Jeff said. “He goes to an outdoor playschool several times a week and loves to go hiking and exploring. He’s a little jokester and very independent.”

In 2019, shortly after Walter was born, the Duong family moved back to Minnesota to be closer to family. Because of his condition, Walter’s doctors knew he would need a high level of care with a robust team of specialists. Phoebe said Walter’s doctors in Oregon recommended Essentia Health as the best place for him to receive ongoing care.

“It’s really nice to have a team of people here in Duluth who know the plan and are willing to support his care in every way, communicate with each other effectively and always support Walter,” Phoebe said.

Walter routinely sees his primary care physician, Dr. Steven Schumacher; audiologist Camie Wheeler; Dr. Amy Garcia, a pediatric gastroenterologist; and speech therapist Kristin Goman.

“Kristin is who we see the most,” Phoebe said. “She knows exactly how to work with him without pushing him too far. It’s really nice to see her working so well with him.”

“Walt is an independent, playful, hard-working and determined young boy,” Goman said. “It has been a rewarding journey to help facilitate his ability to gain independence with his feeding skills and ability to vocalize using his speaking valve. Working with families like Walt’s is what makes my job so rewarding.”

Because his condition causes some overlapping symptoms, Walter’s doctors and specialists need to be on the same page, which requires significant communication between departments — something that’s never lacking, Phoebe said.

“It seems like everything is as seamless as it could be,” she said. “The communication with all of the providers to work out concerns and provide Walter with exceptional care is wonderful.”

Phoebe adds that, over time, she has seen Walter become more comfortable with his care team, noting that he actually likes going to the doctor now.

“He’ll run in and show them his toys and talk to them,” Phoebe said. “He even likes to put his blood pressure cuff on.”

While Walter uses sign language as his primary form of communication, through speech therapy Goman has helped him begin to speak more clearly. He has completed feeding therapy and has been able to transition off pureed foods to eating solid foods for every meal. Those are just a few things that have improved. Phoebe is proud to say Walter is doing better than ever.

“When I look back at the function of Walter from when we first got here to now, he has made so much progress with his speech,” Phoebe said. “He doesn’t get frustrated at school anymore when he’s talking to his friends and it’s really heartwarming to see him have that freedom.”

At just 3 years old and a whole life ahead of him, Phoebe said Walter is living large and loving life. Fresh off a trip to Hawaii, which Walter loved, the trio now spends their days doing what Walter loves the most — walking on the Lakewalk in Duluth and playing the Toy Story version of Monopoly Junior. D

Anthony Matt is the media relations specialist at Essentia Health.

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by Sam

By Samantha Roffers

Hello, dear readers!

I hope that by the time you’re reading this spring will have officially sprung. It seems to be the neverending winter these days. Beautiful spring days are quickly chased away by snow, rain and cold.

It was easy to forget about the cold when we headed to Bender's Shoes in their new location at 901 W. Central Entrance, Duluth. Their new store is incredibly spacious and filled with high quality shoes, clothing, gifts, and much more. There are multiple large and clean fitting rooms and a great big cozy couch near the check out to relax and admire all your new goodies.

You could easily spend hours in this gorgeous new location, we certainly did. The new Benders is a onestop shop for yourself and the whole family. D

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This first look is the perfect spring and summer outfit, for casual work days, baby showers, lunch dates and more. This cardigan is butter soft and the perfect length. This gorgeous floral top features an ever flattering flowy middle and a beautiful neckline. It could easily be worn alone or with a jacket or sweater. I paired this look with these gorgeous, strappy little sandals. The pink tones perfectly match the cardigan and they really just tie the whole look together. Plus, they are unbelievably comfortable.

For this next look I paired the same awesome pants with a lightweight white blouse. This blouse is perfect for the warmer months. The delicate floral detailing, three-quarter sleeves and deep neckline take this from a “plain white top” to the next level. For this look I donned these great multicolor flats, which are so comfortable and feature an adorable concho accessory that my western heart was immediately drawn to.

The next look drew the attention of everyone in the store, in the best way! I paired that vibrant blouse from before with this beautiful striped romper. This romper was great on its own, but the top tied at the waist worked better for my short torso, adding some much needed shape. You could easily achieve this with a scarf or belt tied around the waist as well. I paired this look with these awesome Sorel wedges. They were so incredibly cute and comfortable, the perfect summer wedge!

This last look was probably my favorite. You all know I'm a comfy and casual gal most of the time. This sweatshirt had magic woven in it. It had such an unbelievably cozy fit and great attention to detail. I personally loved the thick cord strings and high neckline. The color was stunning and perfect for spring and could easily be brought into your fall line up. I paired it with these super fun canvas shoes featuring a gorgeous pastel tie dye. This look was a ten out of ten for me. This is the perfect outfit for hanging at the lake or around the campfire.

By Claire Kiger

Incollege, Erin Hansen fell in love with running. Over time, she started to notice a persistent pain in her foot. Concerned it was going to get in the way of what she loved, she saw an orthopedic specialist. The specialist referred her to a physical therapist (PT).

“I had absolutely no idea what I was walking into,” Erin said, “but I’m so thankful I went.”

As she followed the treatment plan from her PT, Erin’s pain slowly got better. Ten weeks later, she was able to run a marathon.

The experience inspired her to completely change her career path.

“I quit my job and went back to school to become a PT,” Erin said. “On top of being a completely fascinating field, helping another person get back to