Talia Amanda Loeb
- 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
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