Awesome docs

[Mason'sMom&Dad]

I didn't know whether to post this here or in off topic, but I thought it would be nice to hear by area where you all live and what doctors you have found to be excellent in the care of your trached child. This may help others who live in the same area locate a resource they may not be aware of. I'll start. We live in the northern California city of Chico. We travel 4 hrs. to the San Francisco bay area and treat with Dr. Karen Hardy and staff at Bay Area Pediatric Pulmonary, as well as California Pacific Medical Center. They have been excellent and saved Mason on more than one occasion

[cariaad]

Weare in the Oklahoma City,OK area. Wesee Dr Darrin Brannan as Alli's ped. He is truly awesome. His store of knowledge about special needs kis is so vast. We also swear by Dr Keith Clark, our ORL. ANd Dr David Domek is our endoc who is equally awesome. We wouldnt trade them for anything! Deb

[T-bone]

We live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. We see Dr. Kovesi at the Children Hospital of Eastern Ontario. He is a great doctor. Abby is his third patient with her condition, so that makes him pretty much an expert. Whenever Abby needs to go to the ER, I always tell the residents to call him at home, which they are all very reluctant to do. He has always said that with Abby we can call him at any time.

Teresa

[Ann]

Awesome docs in St. Louis (as you all know, we travel 3000 miles to see these docs -- there are truly awesome):

Pam Schuler (pulmonlogist - specializes in kids on vents)
Gregg Lueder (ophthalmologist)
Anne Connolly (neurologist - specializes in neuromuscular diseases)
David Molter (ENT - he trained under Dr. Cotton and is one of the most down to earth, friendly people you could ever meet).
Barry Markovitz (PICU intensivist - you hope you don't come under his care, but he is the kindest man and he has been an incredible source of support for me over the years).

Awesome docs in Phoenix (okay, I can think of one):
Jim Padrez (pediatrician)

Good topic.

[Nate's Mom]

We live in Wichita, KS. We love our pediatrician, Raman Chopra. He was the girls' doctor first so Nate's by default. He visited the NICU everyday for 3 1/2 weeks to check on Nate. No billing, just checking in. I think that says a lot for a physician!! Nate's GI doctor is Jack Daniel (really, that's his name) and he is based in Kansas City at Children's Mercy Hospital but comes to Wichita once a month. He has a great bedside manner. We've been very lucky. We haven't encountered any "bad" docs.

[Jen3]

We live in Indiana and see Cincinnati Childrens
Pulm-Dr. Daines
Ent- Dr. Cotton
GI-Dr. Puttman
Urology-Dr. Shelden


Love this group of doctors. We are very pleased!!!!!

[Melisande]

I would concur with Ann on STL Children's docs. I think that may be our same list except for the PICU. Dr. F. Sessions Cole is our primary specialist. He's a neonatologist/pulmonologist/geneticist all rolled into one. Can't beat that and he is awesome. I can e-mail or call he or his nurse, Donna Richardson with questions or problems anytime. (and I have) Oh, I'd add Deb Prater who is the trach education nurse at STL Children's too. She's a miracle worker! She orders our custom trachs, taugh us trach care, and keeps us in what we need for Donovan.

[Kim~Jacob's mom]

We live in Madera, CA which is the Central Valley.
We go to Children's Hospital Central CA (aka Valley children's hospital)

Pediatrician- Dr. Larry Miller
Pulmo- Dr. Roberto and Dr. Sudhaker--both excellent
GI- Dr. Kelts
Neurosurgeon- Dr. Woodword
and the best doctor ever who now works in TN is:
Dr. Michael Allshouse[B]

He is a pediatric surgeon he did Jacobs TEF surgery, Trach, Fundo/nissen. He is just the best doctor and i can not say enough good things about him. He treats your child as if it were his own. Unfortunately for us he moved to TN, but if i had to i would chase him down if Jacob needed his expertise.

We also go to Children's Los Angeles
Dr. Skaggs--orthopedic surgeon

http://www.tracheostomy.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Tasha]

We use the doctors at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital for our sons care.
Our favorite is Dr. Thomas Hazinski-pulmonologist-in his prior life he was a neonatologist. So, Jacob really was an interest to him. He loves it when we come for a visit.
Our ENT is Dr. Jay Werkhaven-he did Jacob's LTP, his lasers to remove scar tissue, and closed his stoma.
Our Surgeon was Dr. John Pietsch. I really liked him--He put the trach in, nissen/gtube, and multiple hernia surgeries. Last year while visiting his patients in the hospital he collapsed. They said he would have not made it if he would have been anywhere else but the hospital. SO that was lucky.
Our GI doc is Dr. Sari Acra.
Our Endo doc is Dr. Aftab-Guy
We really haven't had any bad doctors. But there are a few nurses I'd like to fire for them!!!

[Jacob's Mom]

We live in SW FL, Ft. Myers area. Â*The greatest dr I have ever met is Jacob's pulmonologist, Dr. Luis Faverio. Â*Not only a great dr, this man is just a wonderful person. Â*He has done SOOOO much for Jacob and our family. Â*About 2 years ago the group of dr's he worked for broke up, so the insurance contract was no longer valid. Â*He kept seeing Jacob in and out of the hospital for no charge for almost a year. Â*He even gave Synagis for 3 months at no charge. Â*That is what being a dr is all about. Â*Although his patient base is probably 99% asthma- and cystic fibrosis-related, he has really taken the time to learn about Jacob's condition and he really listens to us as well. Â*

Unfortunately, the list of drs I don't like is way too long. Â*We really have had some bad experiences mostly because they think Jacob is right on the verge of dying and we are in denial about it. Â* http://www.tracheostomy.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sarcasm.gif

[bex271]

We live in fairhope AL but travel to birmingham for our specialists:
ENT: Audi Wooley
General surgeon:Carrol "Mac" Harmon
Plastic surgeon: John Grant,
Oral surgeon: Peter Waite at the kirkland clinic
neurologist: Leon Dure
GI:Dr. Cavendar only met him once so far before jonah had his pins taken out but he seemed really nice and the surgery staff couldn't say enough good things about him. Going to see him in november.

As far as in fairhope
Peds:Rhoda Burns is sooooo sweet with jonah and is willing to help get whatever service jonah might need now or in the future and will right a referal for any specialist jonah needs

ophthalmologist: Dr. Rich in daphne is really good with special children.

I think that covers it now i think.

becca

[mario525]

We live in Deep South Texas. We call Mcallen, in the area generally known as the Rio Grande Valley, home. We have had a wonderful experience with Neonatologist Patricia Ramsey from Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi as well as with Pulmonologist, Dr. Humberto Hidalgo from Edinburg, Texas. I owe my child's life to these two wonderful and dedicated individuals.

jose

[Doug-Iowa]

We live in Ottumwa, Iowa. Southeast part of the state. Our town has a team of 8 pediatricians in one clinic. Mason's doctor is Dr. Eric Dodson. He calls when we are in the Children's hospital for lengthy stays, and I have his cell phone number in case of emergencies. I do have a back up doctor that I will let Mason see and those are the only 2 peds that I will allow to see him. They know Mason's history the best. Dr. Dodson has been absolutely wonderful with Mason. He knows when it is time to call someone else that can help. That says a lot. We go to the Children's Hospital of Iowa at the University Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. It is about a 2 hour drive, and many a time we made that drive at 3 am. They have just revamped the PICU, and PEDS units in the last 2 years, and is so family friendly. We see only one doc there and she is Dr. Nancy Bauman, Otolarangology dept (ENT). She is great. She is wonderful.

Jarita

[twintotwin]

For anyone living in NJ: the NICU at St. Joseph's in Paterson has excellent docs...as well as the PICU

In Mountainside there is a children's rehab called Children's Specialized Hospital. It's for kids who aren't ready to come home yet...kind of an in between ICU and home. My boys were there probably the longest they ever had anyone in short-term rehab, about 22 months. The neonatologist is Sharon Burke. We loved her, she helped my boys in so many ways. And she knows her sick baby stuff!

But now we live near Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune City. Our pulm is Dadzie- love him. Our ENT is Mitskavich- love her! Our pedi specializes in special needs kids, Thomas O'Brien- love him too.

In the future if there are any new potential members or anyone who wants info for NJ feel free to PM me.

[Kara Beth's Mommy]

We live in Oklahoma City. Kara goes to Oklahoma Children's Hospital. Here are her wonderful doctors:

Dr. Casey Hester-Ped (we have her pager#, cell#, home & husbands cell#, the BEST Ped ever!!!)
Dr. Royall-Pulmo (has very high rate of getting children off from the vent)
Dr. Rana Said-Neuro (in Dallas but WELL worth the drive)
Dr. Tuggle-Surgeon (very good at surgery stuff)


Rachel

[hcs_mom]

We see Cinci doctors:

Dr. Finney (pedi)...LOVE this woman. She and I chatted when I found out about the trach. She said no problem. She would treat as much as she was comfortable with and send me to a specialist when she felt unsure. And she's honest...she doesn't like treating pseudomonas infections outpatient, but knows ENT will, so she will send lab reports to ENT for advice. She listens to me and if I tell her something is wrong or what I suspect, she TAKES ACTION!

Dr. Haberman (neonatologist): Love her too. She was a fellow that discharged Brianna from NICU! Many of the same traits as MD above.

Dr. Willging (ENT): Assoc of Dr. Cotton's. LOVE him. He is so responsive and listens to our concerns (unlike ENT residents/fellows...grrr). I wouldn't trade him for anything.

Dr. West (opthalmologist): Very direct (but that's OK...she doesn't sugar coat anything). She also treated Brianna.