Saving Ian

Since infancy, Ian Rashall has been in and out of hospitals with severe stomach problems. “In Houston” explained Shara, Ian’s mother, “they thought he had colic, then food allergies, and then they just really did not believe his problems were as bad as we were telling them.

When Ian cam to Baptist Beaumont Hospital, the Rashalls experienced the Partners In Caring philosophy that promotes an environment of teamwork, opportunity, encouragement, and trust. “Baptist has something other hospitals don’t,” said Shara. “Everyone here knows how to treat kids. They really wanted Ian to feel better; they wanted to find out what the problem was.”

At Baptist, doctors discovered a well-hidden, plum-sized pancreatic cyst that made the four-year-old a candidate for surgery. Child Life Specialist, Sarah Adams, prepared Ian with plenty of pictures and hands on experience with some of the equipment he would be seeing, so surgery would not be so scary. She even scrubbed up and went to the operating room with Ian. “Sarah was always finding ways to get our son’s mind off of bad,” noted Shara. “Ian really loves her. Kids can tell when you love them, and Sarah loves Ian like he is a member of her own family.”

Since surgery, Ian is off medicines, out of pain, eating what he wants, and was well enough to enjoy trick or treating for the first time. In his words: “They took my plum out and fixed my tummy.” In mom’s words: “I put Baptist above all other hospitals, because they care. They changed my little boy’s life; they changed our lives.”