Author Archives: Greg Mercer

About Greg Mercer

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Constipation Part 2

My wife and I took Lily to see the pediatric surgeon today. Originally, she was scheduled to see him on May 18th, but I had the appointment moved up, because she had become more constipated than normal. In short, the doctor gave us good news and bad news. The bad news is that Lily’s constipation will be a lifelong problem. It will greatly restrict her diet and make potty training more difficult. However, her symptoms can be easily remedied with “an aggressive bowel management program” (his words, not mine). As noted previously, Lily already has a high fiber, high liquid, … Continue reading →

Splitting the Difference

In addition to her pediatrician, our daughter sees two specialists. One is the pediatric surgeon, who performed her operations, and the other is a gastroenterologist (GI doctor). Both are concerned with making sure Lily is feeding normally, maintaining appropriate weight, and not experiencing any symptoms of reflux. The doctors are familiar with one another as they both work for the same children’s hospital, and I know that each has a high opinion of the other, because they have said as much. However, I suspect they have little communication with each other, and therefore, they have a difference of opinion on … Continue reading →

Dealing with Constipation

Most kids experience the discomfort of constipation at one time or another. Just type the words “constipation” and “toddler” into your favorite search engine, and you’ll see hundreds of results from message board moms throughout the country. So, it would seem that the topic has been sufficiently covered. For our daughter, however, constipation is a more serious matter, and it will likely be one she will have to deal with for the rest of her life. In addition to being born with a detached esophagus, Lily was also diagnosed with an imperforated anus; instead of a normal anal opening, she … Continue reading →

Do Babies Remember?

My oldest memory is of the time I was playing in my garage and found an old ketchup packet. I tried to tear it open with my teeth, but the ketchup ended up squirting in my mouth. Not only did I get sick, but I also did not eat ketchup for the next sixteen years. I was four years old at the time. I am 34 now; a 30-year-old memory is pretty good in my opinion. But this post isn’t about me. It’s about my daughter, Lily. She is sixteen months old, and what I want to know is: Can … Continue reading →

Patient Rights

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A big part of being a parent to a special needs child is frequent trips to the doctor. And more than anything, that means waiting. After all as Jerry Seinfeld once said, “They call it a waiting room for a reason. They’re gonna use it.” Our pediatrician’s office isn’t too bad. It’s the specialists that are the worst (especially if they are part of group that practices at a large hospital). Not only do they expect you to arrive 20 minutes early for an appointment (who are these people… TSA?), but then they offer no apologies for making you wait … Continue reading →

Remembering Your Kid is Just a Kid

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As the parent of a special needs child, I can’t help but think of my child as special or unique. In late 2008, my daughter Lily was born with a detached esophagus that had to be surgically repaired three days after she was born. As a result, Lily never breastfed, never drank out of a bottle, and, until she was six months old, was only able to drink half an ounce of liquid by mouth each day. So without question, Lily is special. There are times, though, when I have to force myself to take a step back and recognize … Continue reading →