Meet Isla
Isla loves her friends, families and puppies, Cheerio and Daisy! After having life-saving stomach surgery at just 22-hours old, Isla is closely monitored by her team at the Stollery.
After she was born, Isla started having some problems. The pediatrician examining her did some tests and decided she needed to go to the Stollery’s neonatal intensive care unit where her team discovered she had an esophageal atresia and a tracheoesophageal fistula – Isla’s esophagus was not completely formed and she needed surgery on her stomach.
After spending more than 20 days at the Stollery, she was able to go home. Over the years, Isla has returned to the Stollery numerous times and has been seen by gastroenterology, cardiology, respirology, dermatology and nephrology. She has had some admissions and many day surgeries for her esophagus dilatations, and numerous Emergency Department visits for respiratory issues. While Isla is still an active patient at the Stollery, she knows with the support and help from her team, she is growing and getting stronger each year – and her family is grateful to have the most specialized children’s hospital in Western Canada a short drive away.