Take me to Timpanogos Regional Hospital — they have dedicated pediatric care

Spencer and Megan Snyder laid their firstborn, Crew, on an exam table for his 2-month well-baby visit. Crew’s calm and pleasant demeanor shined as the doctor went through the routine head-to-toe checkup. Toward the end of the exam, the pediatrician gently pressed upon Crew’s lower abdomen and felt something unusual.

“The doctor noticed a possible hernia issue when Crew would strain. He suggested an ultrasound and said, ‘If it’s nothing, that’s great, but if there is, we want to catch it early,’” Spencer remembered. “The whole process of taking a 2-month-old to the hospital can feel scary, but Timpanogos Regional Hospital has a pediatric department with caregivers who specialize and have experience in working with kids and newborns.”

Coordinating care and creating a plan quickly

Crew received an ultrasound within the pediatric imaging department at Timpanogos Regional Hospital. The child-centered area includes high-tech imaging and pediatric-trained radiologists and techs.

Crew’s ultrasound revealed an inguinal hernia, meaning soft tissue from Crew’s intestines bulged through a weak point in his abdominal muscles. The drooping tissues fell into Crew’s scrotum, producing discomfort when digesting. The diagnosis made sense to his parents.

“We had noticed it took Crew a long time to eat, and we could tell he wasn’t comfortable. Plus, we’d hear his stomach making noises as it tried to digest or pass gas,” Spencer said.

Approximately 3 to 5 percent of healthy, full-term babies are born with inguinal hernias. If left untreated, serious complications like entangled and twisted intestines can occur. To treat the issue, surgeons repair the unwanted, herniated opening.

“One of the things that really impressed me on the day of the ultrasound was that within a matter of minutes, we found out he had the hernia, spoke with our pediatrician and got in contact with a pediatric surgeon. We had a plan of action as we left the hospital that day,” Spencer said.

Caring like family

On the day of surgery, Spencer and Megan dressed Crew in a purple hospital gown, decorated with cartoon dogs and cats. It was hard to believe that their small, 10-pound baby was going to have surgery.

“The most difficult moment is when you hand the baby off and they head to the operating room; but as we did so, Dr. Trotter smiled and said he’d treat our baby as his own. He said, ‘We’ll take care of him. He’s our boy now.’ It was very calming,” Spencer said.

Crew’s surgical team included Dr. Lee Trotter, pediatric surgeon, and Dr. Colt Brunson, pediatric anesthesiologist and specially trained pediatric nurses. The team came with vast experience and love for treating children and infants.

“This was a brand-new thing for us, but they had seen this issue and treated hernias many times before. Their confidence gave us the confidence we needed. Once we found out we could have Dr. Brunson and Dr. Trotter, we felt at peace,” Spencer said.

Crew — new and improved

After surgery, Dr. Brunson and Trotter approached the waiting room with news of Crew. Four grandparents, Mom and Dad eagerly awaited their report.

“When the doctors came out to talk with us, they told us everything went great and Crew did amazing. They answered our questions, and even showed us pictures from inside Crew’s body. It completely put us at ease,” Spencer said.

Immediately following surgery, Crew’s discomfort during digesting resolved. He began enjoying full-length feeding times and any pain he had felt before disappeared.

“In the space of 24 hours, he was even better than his old self,” Spencer said. “It was an immediate fix.”

Today, Crew is a calm and cheerful 5-month-old who loves chewing on everything. He’s sitting up, starting to explore solid foods and giggling at funny noises and faces.

“Oh, he’s in such a fun stage right now,” Spencer said. “We’re so grateful the hernia could be taken care of right away so that he can thrive during these early months.”