LAKEPORT, Calif. – When Kaiden Shuck was born four weeks early on July 30, 2007, doctors told his mother not to expect him to survive.

Edith Shuck, Kaiden’s mother, went to the hospital while pregnant for a stress test on July 29, a month before her due date. To her surprise, the doctor told her that she wouldn’t be leaving, but would deliver shortly.

“His heart rate kept dropping. I had a C-section that night, and he was having complications with his breathing,” said Edith.

The day after his birth, Kaiden was flown to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at UCSF, where he would spend the next four months.

“I had to wait until they let me go to get to him,” said Edith. “Waiting was the worst. I kept asking, ‘Is he going to be okay?’ They really didn’t think he would survive.”

Kaiden was born legally blind. At four months old, he began suffering from near constant seizures. He was unable to walk until the age of eight. Between the ages of seven and ten he couldn’t gain weight, and he’s currently undergoing testing for Crohn’s disease. The root of Kaiden’s failure to thrive remains a mystery, however his mother expects him to continue to overcome the improbable.

“He’s fought everything they said he wouldn’t do,” said Edith. “I feel very lucky to have him as mine.”

Edith has overcome her own share of obstacles as well.

“I change his feeding tubes myself. At first I told them ‘I can’t take that tube out and see that hole in his stomach. I can’t do it.’ Then we had a spare at home and I thought, ‘You know what? I can do this and I’m going to.’ I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Access to care when needed most

Edith and Kaiden have weekly appointments at Sutter Lakeside Hospital to change his PICC line, a tube that aids in fulfilling Kaiden’s needs by supplying nutrition directly into his veins.

Before his PICC line, he hadn’t gained weight in years; since May, he’s gained 10 pounds. Edith doesn’t mind the hour and a half round trip for the fifteen minute procedure. Her son’s access to outpatient care at Sutter Lakeside Hospital saves her a weekly six hour trip to San Francisco.

“The nurses have been so amazing,” said Edith. “The two nurses we have all the time became like other moms. They see him coming and they’re ready to go. They’re just as good as we’ve ever had in San Francisco or Davis. It’s comfortable knowing we’re here and they’ll take care of him.”

Edith considers Sabrina Bailey, RN, and Ali Conser, RN, Kaiden’s dream team. Sabrina and Ali, who met in nursing school, work together to change Kaiden’s PICC line and dressing as quickly as possible.

“That little boy – he is just so sweet,” said Ali. “He doesn’t say a lot but he always wants to give hugs and kisses. You can tell he has a warmth about him; it makes you comfortable.”

Outpatient care offers a variety of services from wound care to blood infusions. Pediatric patients aren’t common, but the staff is equipped to care for children as well.

“His smile when he walks in really does light up the room,” said Ali.

Though PICC line changes are uncomfortable, Kaiden doesn’t hold a grudge.

“He’s never mad when it’s done. He still wants to give you a hug and kiss,” said Ali.

Hope for the future

While Edith sometimes struggles with the loneliness of being a single mother to a special needs child, she gains strength from her son.

“He has such a beautiful soul; he just loves. I’ll go through anything just to have him with me, no matter what it is. My mother has been a huge support as well.”

As for Kaiden’s future, Edith trusts that her son will continue to persevere.

“A lot of the time we don’t have answers. We’re back and forth all the time to the city – not knowing what’s next is the hardest part. I wish we knew but at the same time, he’s amazing. I feel very lucky to have him as mine.”

Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s 10 bed adult and pediatric outpatient care unit is open 24/7. Services include infusions, wound care, blood transfusions, cardiac stress tests, PICC line insertions and more. For more information about Sutter Lakeside Hospital, visit www.sutterlakeside.org.