Charlotte’s MiniONE®
“Charlotte’s G-tube has been lifesaving; She is thriving and gaining weight.”
Charlotte’s Mom
My daughter, Charlotte, was born prematurely at 26 weeks. Due to her prematurity, Charlotte struggled with taking bottles. She had sucking and swallowing difficulties. After extensive work with her speech-language pathologists, it was recommended that Charlotte receive a MiniONE® Balloon Button G Tube so she could come home and be with her twin sister, Madison. It was very scary having our infant daughter undergo anesthesia for surgery. After a total of 116 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and 29 days being separated, Charlotte and her twin sister were finally reunited!
As a nurse, I had experience with feeding tubes in the adult world, which helped me learn how to manage her MiniONE® Balloon Button G Tube. Through all the amazing NICU nurses and Charlotte’s GI team, both my husband and I left the NICU feeling comfortable feeding our daughter through the G-tube. It has been a journey to learn the tips and tricks of using her button, from connecting extension sets and washing syringes to charging her pump. It is a whole new world of feeding.
Charlotte’s G-tube has been lifesaving; She is thriving and gaining weight. Although she is young, we are constantly talking about her “magic button.” She is a happy, giggly little baby who enjoys regular activities like tummy time and swimming, and her MiniONE® Balloon Button G Tube has only enhanced her life and her feeding journey. We are so happy Charlotte and her twin Madison are together!