Hirschsprungs Disease
Luke was born on March 6, 2003. Our story began three days later as we were preparing to pack and go home. The doctor came in and said, “I think it is best if we keep Luke for further testing.” We were told then, when Luke was three days old, that they thought Luke had Hirschsprungs disease (HD), which is a disease of the colon. I had never heard of this disease. The first biopsy they did came back inconclusive. We continued these biopsies for the next two years, and the results remained the same. In 2009, after years of Luke battling continuous constipation and stomach aches, we decided to start back with a gastro doctor. We were hoping now that he was a little older that something would be found. In April of 2009, we were referred to Dr. Carroll “Mac” Harmon, a pediatric surgeon at Children’s Hospital. A biopsy was done outpatient. As we waited the next week for the results, I prayed and prayed for a conclusive answer as to whether or not Luke had HD. On April 15, 2009, Luke was diagnosed with Hirschsprungs Disease. He was six years old at the time. Since Luke’s diagnosis, he has developed problem after problem, had numerous surgeries, two colostomies, and he is still struggling today. Luke always has a smile on his face, and is always up for a game of XBOX with one of the nurses or doctors. Although Luke still has a long road ahead, it is comforting to know that we are at the best hospital in Alabama. I could never thank Dr. Mac Harmon or Dr. Albert Chong enough, nor are there adequate thanks for the amazing staff at Children’s Hospital of Alabama.
