Easton’s MiniONE^®

This testimonial was written by Amy, Easton’s Mom, from his point of view.

Hi, my name is Easton and I’m currently 3 years old! While my mommy was pregnant with me, they expected me not to make it. I was covered in cystic hygromas and they suspected I had some serious syndromes (thankfully I didn’t). I also had an intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a two-vessel cord, and a congenital heart defect. I had a difficult start into this world, born at 37 weeks – weighing in at 4 pounds and 3 ounces. After birth I was sent to the NICU where I spent six days and was diagnosed with a gene mutation on top of my heart defect. After coming home, all went well for a few weeks until I decided I didn’t want to eat anymore. I would easily get tuckered out due to my heart defect and couldn’t get the nutrition that I needed.

I started to get thin, couldn’t control my body temperature, and would stay hypothermic. So, after a few trips to the emergency room, I was admitted into the hospital mid-2020. After many attempts of trying to finish a bottle, I just couldn’t. My care team sent feeding and speech therapists to my room, and we tried so many different bottles and nipples but I just wasn’t having it. My care team decided it was best to try a Nasogastric (NG) Tube. My NG Tube was okay, I was finally gaining and thriving and holding my temperature up. I was discharged from the hospital a few days later after my momma was trained on how to use the NG. However, when I discovered my hands, I would constantly pull my NG Tube out, so in July of 2020 I went in to have a Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube) placed. We started out with a MIC-KEY® Balloon Button, it was okay until I started crawling. It was big and bulky and would snag on everything, which resulted in many busted balloons. It also caught my attention being so big and I would constantly play with it. Me and my family had several issues with leaking, broken valves, and irritation as well. We just weren’t a fan. My mommy asked for a MiniONE® Balloon Button in November of 2021 after researching our other options and decided it would be better fit for me. It’s the BEST thing we’ve ever done! No leaking or broken valves, no busted balloons or irritation, it’s small, doesn’t bother me, and it’s much softer and more flexible than the MIC-KEY®. It even glows in the dark, which I’m obsessed with. My family just can’t say enough good about the MiniONE® Balloon Button! My button keeps me alive, gaining weight, and overall thriving! I’m just not an eater and absolutely hate taking my medicine by mouth, so my button is my life saver and what’s keeping me well-nourished! It’s just a blessing!

I had open heart surgery in July of 2021, a few short months after I turned one and my button is the only reason I got to come home just days after my surgery. My doctor said feeding is the main thing that holds most kids back after open heart surgery – just for them not feeling up to it. But, with my G-Tube, I still got my belly full and got to bust out of there! I’m a typical boy and love trucks, tractors, the outdoors, and my favorite is kicking dirt! I love to swim; I’m obsessed with the beach and sand! I’m already asking to play tee ball and football and thanks to the MiniONE® Balloon Button, all that is possible due to it being so small and out of the way!

Mic-Key® is a registered trademark of Avent, Inc or its affiliates.