This month is Infertility Awareness Week💉
I reflect on my gratitude to all those who helped me find my path to motherhood 👶
If you find yourself or someone you know on this journey, read about my story and how to prepare in my 📕
@crholton
@DrRissman
7 years hoping & waiting
3 IUIs
4 egg retrievals/IVF rounds💉
1 hysterectomy
2 transfers
And he’s finally here💙🩵
Baby V arrived & is doing well
My humble thank you will always be w/ my gestational carrier for her selfless gift that I can never repay
#pedsiscu
@Caden_Lane_Baby
On this, the 73rd day of
#ecmo
support for Covid, this young
#pedsicu
patient was decannulated. The work it took by the team & by him to survive these 73 days was inspirational & emotional. We’re so proud of him. His journey below in🧵 Shared w/ permission from his devoted mom 💪🏻
Shared with permission. Another one of our patients... having a Saturday shooting hoops on
#ecmo
, enjoying a lollipop. Thank you for sharing your story of survival after Trimethroprim-Sulfamethoxazole exposure and Respiratory Failure.
#medtwitter
#pedsicu
In honor of
#infertilityawarenessweek
, I’m finally sharing📣
After 7 years of fertility therapy & adoption pursuit
I’m pregnant via a gestational carrier (surrogate)💙
We’ve been having the best time growing this little boy
And my village has been incredible🥰
#PedsICU
#blackouttuesday
calls us to stay off social media tomorrow and invest time in our communities and our friends by seeking to understand our roles in this. While you’re at it... unfollow those who don’t elevate integrity, compassion and empathy
He went for trips around the
#pedsicu
for a scenery change and to sit in the cardiac chair. His team and parents were so happy to accompany him on every trip!
Part of his physical therapy and treatment plan for Covid was to prone on ecmo. He was our first
@ChildrensMercy
patient to do this on
#ecmo
. We developed hand signals so he could control the process every time.
#rehablegend
I recently purchased a new home near my parents to prepare for the arrival of 👶💙
Heard this week
Security Provider: You can talk to your husband about the plans
🤯
Me: I don’t have one of those but you can talk to me
I did a lot to get here on my own
The outpouring of well wishes is overwhelming 😍
Vaughn & I and Courtney are 🏡 and getting settled
Our teamwork to bring Baby V here is a journey that binds us for life and I couldn’t be more grateful 🩵
He is the best 🎁 after so long dreaming of him
#pedsicu
#infertility
7 years hoping & waiting
3 IUIs
4 egg retrievals/IVF rounds💉
1 hysterectomy
2 transfers
And he’s finally here💙🩵
Baby V arrived & is doing well
My humble thank you will always be w/ my gestational carrier for her selfless gift that I can never repay
#pedsiscu
@Caden_Lane_Baby
In July I came to work and cried in overwhelming grief. Today I came to work and cried for entirely different reasons. I’m in awe to live during a time when
#science
can save us from ourselves. Thank you.
It happened
I pushed submit on my book
“Navigating Your Fertility as a Woman in Medicine”
I’m sure there was some word or sentence I could have changed again
But had to let it go and send it out into the world!
I’m so excited❤️ Thank you to many for your encouragement
#PedsICU
Never did I think my tweet would get picked up by ESPN. But this guy deserves it for all his hard work. Thank you to his whole physical therapy team in Salt Lake City and especially
@bryanlohsePT
. See pinned tweet for info on his suspected disease process.
A true inspiration 👏
Carson Dodd is still hooping while receiving the highest form of life support after his lungs failed. (via
@JennaMillerKC
,
@CarsonDodd
)
A rehab collage from our first included adult patient who survived an
#ecmo
run after TMP-SMX. Thanks
@uihealthcare
for helping her bike and use resistance bands in a chair as well as walk and go outside!
@PICU_Up
#rehablegend
The first patient to contact us after our CNN article with her story of respiratory failure after Trimethroprim-Sulfamethoxazole exposure. She is also an
#ecmo
warrior walking on pump in 2012, now on room air in 2019. Posted with permission.
#medtwitter
#PedsICU
In March of 2018,
#bravelikezei
was featured in
@cnnhealth
for
#rehab
and walking on
#ecmo
. We slowly have understood her
#ARDS
was due to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and her story led us to 14 others who suffered from this. Their stories and evidence to follow in coming days.
Asthma is an increasing indication for ECMO
One Year Ago
A brave young
#PedsICU
patient came with severe asthma 🫁
She was placed on VV
#ECMO
Extubated on D
#1
She could watch TV & communicate with her family
She sat & dangled on D
#2
🛏
👀 below
🧵
📸Posted with Permission📸
Recovering this weekend from
#pedsicu
I remember that I
1️⃣cried more this week than in 11 yrs of practice
2️⃣had migraines from dehydration
3️⃣had Charley Horses from dehydration
4️⃣got cystic maskne
5️⃣couldn’t sleep worrying about the severity of illness
Allowing some grace now
@AnyaParr
@DrSandman11
Anything that aerosolizes the virus is high risk, bagging is in that category. This also includes non invasive, trilogy ventilators, suctioning, taking viral samples and all aerosolized meds
I may never ❤️ a pic more
Its almost exactly 7️⃣yrs from my initial fertility visit to his birth
I offer this hope to all mammas (& pappas) who would be & haven’t welcomed a little one yet
It may not look how you imagined
It’s ok to grieve that
And find your own way🙏
Our 5 cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Failure in Healthy Adolescents Exposed to Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole was published in Pediatrics. Link below. 4/5 had prolonged ecmo runs.
@AmerAcadPeds
#ecmo
#pedsicu
#medtwitter
#fertilityawarenessweek
My upcoming 📕 cover
Navigating your Fertility as a Woman in Medicine
We can change culture & support families early on in medicine
We don’t have to have higher infertility & pregnancy complication rates💡
DM/comment if you want a link later🔗
#PedsICU
In honor of
#infertilityawarenessweek
, I’m finally sharing📣
After 7 years of fertility therapy & adoption pursuit
I’m pregnant via a gestational carrier (surrogate)💙
We’ve been having the best time growing this little boy
And my village has been incredible🥰
#PedsICU
3 am ⏰musings from a new single
Mom
It’s not possible to have too many swaddle blankets or burp clothes
It’s not always apparent if it’s ☕️ or 💩 on your 👟
Keep a list of those who said “lmk if you need anything”
Enjoy the cuddles🩵 & invest in caffeine at your 🏡!
Years ago
I told a physician I respected about my early findings in Bactrim related ARDS 🫁
This person told me it was “slipshod” science
And I never forgot it
Glad I didn’t listen & followed the patients & their stories
Thanks to all who believed me
#pedsicu
VA
@trpender
#Ecmo
sim day for the
#PedsICU
and
#pedscicu
. Behind the scenes magic allows us to simulate all sorts of alarms and flow changes on the circuit. Thanks to all on the multidisciplinary team for a good day of discussion!
14 years ago I decided I was brave enough to be a
#pedsicu
doc while visiting Machu Pichu
I’ve been battling imposter syndrome as of late but yesterday I decided I’m brave enough to keep evolving in areas I think I can contribute
@SashaShillcutt
says, we are brave enough
I've been waiting to share our new VA for
#TMPSMXARDS
. Thank you
@ATSBlueEditor
for sharing our work on this new entity
Key findings:
#ARDS
after 7+ days of drug exposure, early air leak, 12/14 needed
#ecmo
,
#DAIDE
is a novel pathology finding with destroyed alveolar epithelium
ICYMI: I wrote a book!
I’m here to share my personal story
My journey to motherhood as an ICU doctor is unique, but the lessons I’ve learned can help anyone in medicine on their path to parenthood
If you, or someone you know, is navigating infertility, stay tuned!
#infertility
My gestational carrier & I have been intentional to share weekly time together⏰
Not everyone has this opportunity & I’m grateful for it🙏
We had the best time over the weekend🍼
Everyone who wishes to be a parent has a different journey
This is mine
#pedsicu
If you are an
#ecmo
center, Please update your ecmo capacity. Increasing calls for Ecmo beds, some for young adults to to go to
#PedsICU
as adult beds are full. Ecmo beds are limited by number of pumps & staff trained to use those pumps. 🟡limited, 🔴none,🔘 unknown.
@kld_rn
3 am musings from a new Momma
I’m 💯 certain I log his diet better than I ever did my own
So 🍼 cheers Baby V!
Also in the words of
@Adele
“My little ❤️ … I love you like a million times”
I couldn’t b more
#medtwitter
today
Out looking for actual copies of
@nyt
to have our article to commemorate what is likely my professional peak 😂
#tmpsmxards
in the Diagnosis column today
In my
@onepeloton
shirt, thanks to Barnes/Noble for having copies!
@BNBuzz
#pedsicu
Today,
@nytimes
and
@latimes
featured our message to all Americans. It’s urgent that we take the scientifically proven measures to protect our children:
- Get vaccinated. 💉
- Wear masks, especially in schools. 😷
- Social distance and wash hands. 🤲
Our
#pedsicu
division has been through a lot
We’ve seen good friends leave & welcomed new friends
Growth to 67 beds has been busy
But the core values in our group haven’t changed
We care about each other
We provide a high standard of care
And we teach 👏🥇Congrats my friends
We are 33 wks
He’s a big boy & we’re monitoring weekly
Keeping track of 🩸 pressures & 🩸 sugars
It’s a lot of work for this wonderful soul carrying my baby boy💙
Today we celebrated🎉
I’ve asked several excellent men I know to help be role models for him
They r excited too
In 2019, I took a 6 wk medical LOA. It was the longest # of consecutive nights slept in my bed since 2007. It’s bewildering to consider and reflect on how working nights affects us long term. So I’m grateful to have a booked a solo wellness week!!
#pedsicu
🧘♀️ 🛌
It’s my honor for the
@ChildrensMercy
#ecmo
team to win the clinical team of the year award at the Dept of Pediatrics Award ceremony🥇
This team isn’t possible without the incredible leadership by
@kld_rn
&
@dnewt_MSN
We’re a platinum center & completed our 1000th run this yr!
Our
#pedsicu
docs run all pediatric transports coming into
@ChildrensMercy
. Along with our
#nicu
colleagues, we run over 5000 transports s year. Keeps us busy ✈️ 🚑 🚁
Health care workers have long toiled in systems that are suboptimal. But we continue on because our patients’ survival means more to us than our own comfort. 👇🏻recognizes that dedication in this year of
#covid19
. To all
#pedsicu
and
#medtwitter
, you are appreciated and heroic.
After 457 days, she went home. I had never seen her smile as she did on this day. Going home was all she had wanted for so long. By this time, we had submitted our 5 cases like hers for publication. All 5 had long ICU stays and 4/5 had ecmo runs.
@KCStar
@BoyGeekDrone
Every rehab activity while on ecmo carries risk. The benefitwith a properly trained team seems to outweigh the risk with the patient becoming mobile and gaining strength even before decannulation. This is essential to patients who end up needing to be listed for lung transplant.
“Stop wearing your exhaustion as a badge of honor”
@BreneBrown
words are no more poignant than for us in the
#pedsicu
. We can’t control being up all night/day resuscitating
Recognize the need for rest after this
And do nothing. Don’t feel bad
@DrRissman
@crholton
@Nate_LaVoy
Our two categorical
#pedsicu
fellows! Last day together at work so capturing the moment 😭 They grow up so fast… go out into the world and make us proud 🥹
As Women in Medicine month kicks off
I share my 📘committed to helping
#WIM
navigate family building in our profession
I share my personal story, what to expect in IUI, IVF, egg freezing, gestational carrier need & adoption
There are also To Do ✅
In an attempt to have a normal thought... here is Drug Of The Month from
@ChildrensMercy
#PedsICU
! Each month we hang a different drug for nurses, residents, fellows and students to learn from 📚🤓
Starting
#pedsicu
fellowship in 2020 during a pandemic🔥
Starting fellowship in 2021, still in a pandemic🥵
Thankful to my fellows for their flexibility in ever changing staffing models, patient workflow & PPE practices
So when grateful…get personalized mugs to celebrate them
Today we are 30 wks! 🤰
A joyous milestone to reach
Preparations are underway
But I stop to think about how many things in life that are so fulfilling, were at some points hard
And I remind myself it can be both hard and awesome at the same time 💙
Anatomy scan @ 20 wks of pregnancy
Ours was today
Everything was ok💙
Huge 😮💨
I was not addressed or spoken to all though during the scan & I had a lot feelings I wasn’t expecting
In the upcoming book, expect a chapter on surrogacy/gestational carriers
DM me for info
#PedsICU
We did a maternity shoot🤰
Just b/c I'm not carrying him didn't mean I didn't want to have this experience📷
Everyone is different but we enjoyed this time thoroughly🩵
How did we navigate getting to this point?
Check out the process as one possibility in
Mother’s Day can be a silent suffer for many
I’m here to say that if being a mother is your wish, don’t lose hope🤞
It may not look how you thought & that’s ok! It’s your journey
Can’t be more thrilled to be sharing my journey with my gestational carrier (surrogate)!
#PedsICU
2022
So much happened
So much grieving
Part of that process for me is naming what happened
This type of post if v common in infertility social media
This is mine
On to 2023
W/ a shred of hope
& a whole lot of courage as I hope to share the last 6yrs of this journey
#pedsicu
Practicing our
#ECMO
skills today in simulation
Readiness for everyday maintenance events and emergencies keeps us prepared 24/7
@ChildrensMercy
#pedsicu
Special Happy Birthday to
@dnewt_MSN
🎂
Our article about
#ARDS
associated with Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole was one of the top 🔟 articles for Childrens Hospital Association
@hospitals4kids
in 2020!
#PedsICU
Bedside teaching is essential in the
#pedsicu
One of our second year fellows,
@ashleyedaniel
drops knowledge on cardiac physiology with
@dr_ATab
Education like this leads our division to
🏆 win division resident teaching awards
🏅 faculty nominated for teacher of the year
I have often thought to post something similar. My medical history separate from my humanity might not catch mainstream empathy. Here’s my face of someone with preexisting conditions.
#PedsICU
Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m 35 and a doctor. I also have a heart condition that puts me at an increased risk for serious complications from covid.
#IHaveAPreexistingCondition
- Does the face of
#chronicIllness
look different than you thought?
Thanks
@ChildrensMercy
for helping shoot a professional version of my talk for
@atscommunity
next month
I’m grateful for any opportunity to share on Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole ARDS with
#pedsicu
& beyond! We make the case w/
1️⃣Clinical history✍️
2️⃣Pathology🔬
3️⃣Genomics🧬
As this academic year starts, I reflect on 9 years in
#pedsicu
fellow leadership
I’m transitioning out of the PD role & will take the permanent
#ecmo
director role
But the opportunity to help guide future Intensivists was the honor of a career
Not pictured
@AlizaOlive
& others
Congrats to my friends and colleagues for winning 4 million in NIH funding to assist underserved pediatric populations affected by
#covid19
! Job well done and the community is better off with you serving it!
#pedsicu
#WomenInMedicine
#hertimeisnow
Now congrats 🍾 to
@areinamo21
for winning fellow teacher of the year for a SECOND year in a row
@ChildrensMercy
. No surprise to anyone who knows him. Our
#pedsicu
fellowship was lucky to have him.
#Ecmo
simulation is paramount to our
@elso
platinum center of excellence. High fidelity lends itself to real time trouble shooting. Sudden component pop off is an emergency. Bedside staff can quickly preserve flow by using a gloved hand around tubing to stop blood loss.
#pedsicu
4 days and counting …
Almost time to meet my little man
Since he hasn’t arrived yet, I joined my community in support of those with infertility!
My family joined me on a lovely walk this am and sponsored a sign for me 😍
Number two in the books. Deep sigh thinking about hopefully having full immunity soon. It’s not enough though... we need more vaccination locations and supply!
@Chiefs
@SportingKCII
@Royals
I volunteer to give injections! Let’s use your sites for good! 💉 I’m ready.
#pedsicu
We have done additional 3D ultrasounds this pregnancy so I can see my little man & bond with him even though I’m not carrying him
I don’t get to be with him everyday but I get to spend this time
My family has been able to come too & get a sneak peak 💙
#COVID19
at the White House - Contact Tracking. Thanks
@meganranney
&
@bhrenton
for pointing us to the tracking that could have been happening for every covid case, if we didn’t have 7 million cases.
#PedsICU
Now to brag on my colleague
@PfeifferSteve12
for his win at the Dept of Peds Awards!!
He’s really knocking this whole award thing out of the park in his early career🥇
Thanks
@CincyKidsPCCM
for sending us this guy!
#PedsICU
“Hard work is important. So are play and non productivity
My worth is not tied to my productivity, but to my existence
I am worthy of rest”
-
@GlennonDoyle
Take time
#PedsICU
to do work important to YOU
But know you’re more than the next paper or project
You are worthy of rest