Our daughter, Meagan, started having bowel problems a few years ago. Her first surgery at Sanford Children’s was a year or so after the problems started. She had a bowel obstruction. This is when we first met Dr. Casas.
Dr. Casas was Meagan’s first surgeon. She talked with us before the surgery and explained what she was going to do. She also let us know that you can never be sure what you are going to encounter until you get in there. The surgery went well and Dr. Casas met with us right after to explain what she had done. She talked to us in very plain terms and even tried to draw a picture of what things look like and what she had done.
During recovery, Dr. Casas would stop in every day and check on Meagan. She would always talk to Meagan first, asking how she was feeling. My daughter has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair. Some people treat her like she is stupid just because she does not talk really well and because she is in that chair. Dr. Casas talked to her like a real person, someone she really cared about, someone whose opinion mattered. That meant a lot to me and to Meagan. Since that first surgery, we have been in and out of the hospital and have had two other surgeries for related problems. Meagan also ended up having an ileostomy.
Dr. Casas has come to be very special to us. Meagan loves her! After her second to last surgery, we had gone seven months without health issues. That was GREAT for us at the time. Dr. Casas told us we would not have to see her anymore unless we had a problem. We were kind-of sad about that. I was very happy Meagan was doing so well, but we had really come to love and trust Dr. Casas.
By now, Dr. Casas has really gotten to know Meagan and our family. That knowledge really helps in quality of care. One other thing that I, as Meagan’s parent, really appreciate is Dr. Casas and her team respect what I have to say when it comes to Meagan and her health. They respect that fact that I am her mother and know her better than anyone. They never brush aside my concerns or my suggestions or treat me like a paranoid mom. Dr. Casas makes sure that I know if I need anything, I can call her anytime, day or night.
The main thing I want other families to know about Dr. Casas is you can trust her with your most precious possession, your child. She and her team will do their very best for your child and your family. She treats our family like she would want hers to be treated.
Sindy B. Hull, Iowa |
