FULL HOUSE: The Denhams say they were brought closer as a family by Macy’s time at the Stollery. Pictured are Macy, mom Nicole, baby sister Willa, dad Brett and big sister Reese.
And when she got home, things went smoothly for a while. That is, until Macy had the misfortune of catching a cold. While it might not have been a life-threatening issue for some, in Macy’s delicate situation it meant another hospitalization. Once again, the Denhams called their pediatrician, and were instructed to make the trek back to the Stollery. “She did have a cold, but then while we were there we talked about having a fundoplication and having a permanent gastric tube put in,” says Nicole. “She was still throwing up, so the hope was to find a solution. They did a lot of tests and finally determined that was the best course to take.” Fundoplication is a surgical procedure that aims to prevent the movement of stomach contents into the esophagus, therefore reducing the frequency of acid reflux or vomiting. For Macy, this would mean much easier access to nutrition. The permanent G-tube would take the place of her temporary nasogastric tube, and would allow her to feed without triggering her sensitive gag reflex. The surgeries went ahead as planned, and after three more weeks in the Hospital, Macy was finally discharged. It was to be the last of her visits to the Stollery in her first year. The Denhams still stay frequently in contact with the Stollery’s Home Nutrition team. Macy’s permanent G-tube means she must get meals in liquid form five times daily. While Nicole and Brett handle most of the feeding processes, Macy’s life as an active six-year-old means community supports have needed to be developed for her. She attends kindergarten Monday to Friday, so once a day, her teacher and teacher’s aide take care of her meals. An occupational therapist also visits the school to help Macy with her feeding and assist her with adjusting to the day-to-day tasks of a six-year-old’s life at school. Through it all, the staff who work STOLLERYKIDS.COM
with Macy are able to access supports at the Stollery. “There’s such open communication for everyone. Her teachers will be in touch with Home Nutrition at the Stollery, which is great, because then it means we don’t have to contact the Hospital as often, and the teachers can access the information they need,” says Nicole. Macy has adapted well to being in school. She’s an active and rambunctious girl, full of energy. She has a curious mind, often asking “why?” and “what’s that?” without hesitation. “She’s always been around kids, and she went to preschool for two years, so she’s very social and very easy to make friends with. She’s so full of joy, and so willing and eager to learn,” says Nicole. Macy’s energy is undeniable. She proudly shows off her baby book, asking questions about each of the photos inside. When the final page is turned, she suddenly runs off in search of more interesting activities. “She’s got a big sister to keep up to,” says Brett. And keep up, she does. In fact, the two can be heard giggling from the next room while their baby sister, Willa, 2, climbs on to their dad’s lap. It’s a picturesque family scene – the love, joy and care present in the house is almost tangible. Though they’ve faced more than their fair share of adversity, the Denhams are a happy family, one that is stronger than ever. After everything they’ve been through, they are so thankful for everything they have, especially the care they were able to receive at the Stollery. “We’ve had the best possible outcome with Macy because of the Stollery,” says Nicole. Brett adds, “Simply put, the Stollery means everything to us. Just everything.” W I N T E R 2 0 1 6 | HEROES
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