Where Amanda’s daughter was properly diagnosed
Amanda's daughter was treated for gall stones at Mountain View Hospital and she now has jealous siblings asking when it is their turn.
Usually when Amanda McCoy walks through Mountain View Hospital’s doors, she’s working as a nurse educator and nurse in the ICU. But one evening she rushed to the Emergency Room as the mother of a young, frightened and in-pain patient.
Little Emma had complained of stomach pains throughout the week, but this time she couldn’t sleep or stand up straight. She clutched the upper right side of her abdomen and had a low-grade fever.
“We thought it could be the stomach flu or anxiety, but by now we could see that this was more serious. Based on her symptoms and my assessment, it seemed like gallbladder issues – but what 7-year-old has gallbladder problems? So, I figured it was her appendix,” Amanda remembers.
Upon arriving at Mountain View Hospital, Amanda felt a wave of comfort come over her. She looked around and realized she was right where they belonged.
“I knew the whole ER staff – the nurses and the doctor, and they knew me. It felt familiar and comfortable. Because I know the people of Mountain View Hospital, I also know they give excellent care. I trust these providers,” Amanda said.
The ER physician, Dr. Brent Jones, called for a CT scan and lab work. Then, he collaborated with surgeon Dr. Bruce Hill, who previously performed a hernia repair for Emma, and Dr. Garren Miller, Emma’s pediatrician. Together, they discussed and reviewed the results and devised a game plan.
“The CT showed Emma’s appendix looked great, but her gallbladder did not. There was inflammation and fluid buildup … her gallbladder was swollen five times its normal size,” Amanda said.
To determine why Emma’s gallbladder had enlarged, Dr. Jones ordered an ultrasound that revealed the culprit: gallstones.
Gallbladders holds digestive fluid, known as bile, that releases into the small intestine. Occasionally, bits of bile can harden and form into stones. Risk factors for having gallstones include being female and over 40 years old, being overweight or sedentary, eating a high-fat, high-cholesterol, low-fiber diet, or having diabetes. Interestingly, none of these risk factors fit Emma.
“It’s rare for kids Emma’s age to have gallstones, but Mountain View Hospital has all the equipment needed to treat them, and the nursing staff and doctors I trust,” Amanda said. “Plus, my personal support system is here. This is my tribe … So, we admitted Emma and planned for surgery.”
The next day, Dr. Miller performed Emma’s gallbladder removal and Amanda found herself in an odd position – instead of caring for the patient, she sat waiting and praying for the patient.
“I’d much rather be the nurse of a patient than the mother of a sick child,” Amanda said. “But for having a scary experience with our kid, it was a great experience with our hospital stay. Everyone was fantastic, knowledgeable and showered Emma with attention.”
Emma’s gallbladder removal was a success. Now, Emma’s returning to dance classes, gymnastics and her role of “mini-mother” to her three younger sisters. As for Mother Amanda, she’s forever thankful to her workplace family at Mountain View Hospital.
“For me, it feels like home here. It’s where we belong,” Amanda said. “Part of that is working at the hospital, and the other part is our mantra to treat every patient as if they’re family. Being on the receiving end of care was a good reminder for me on the professional side too.”