Liam Nastold

I was born 2 months early, by emergency c-section, at exactly 32 weeks, after a 4-day attempt to stop labor and the severe bleeding of my Mommy had failed. While I was born at a hefty 4 lbs 10.8 oz, and did not need oxygen, I spent 6 weeks in the NICU trying to overcome feeding issues. My feeding issues continued after I was released from the NICU and got to go home for the first time. My Mommy had a strong feeling that something wasn't quite right, and at 3 months of age, I was diagnosed with Hirschsprung's Disease, a congenital disease where nerve cells of the colon do not develop. Since my diagnosis, I have had to go through 3 contrast barium enemas, 4 rectal biopsies, 2 upper endoscopies with biopsies, 5 hospital stays, major surgery to remove the bad part of my colon along with a bowel resection, 8 rounds of Botox shots to relax the muscles of the rectum, and more doctor appointments than I can count. My mommy and daddy spent 5 months having to do colonic irrigations to keep me from developing enterocolitis both before and after my major surgery at 3 months of age. In October of 2018, I began private Occupational Therapy for Sensory Processing Disorder and for my continued feeding issues. I have since "graduated", but continue to suffer from severe food aversions, the one thing that my self-proclaimed "Foodie" Mommy and Daddy cannot understand!! In November of 2018, I started having bouts of illness very similar to the symptoms of Hirschsprung's Disease, but again, Mommy was convinced there was something else going on, even though my doctors were not. In May of 2019, I ended up in the ICU with enterocolitis, a severe infection which, if left untreated, can lead to sepsis. It wasn't until this scare that both my Colorectal Surgeon and GI Doctor put together that I had been fighting SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) for 7 months. I spent a total of 10 days in the hospital, on IV antibiotics and with colonic irrigations 4 times daily, which continued for 6 weeks after I was released from the hospital. When my symptoms returned later that summer, my doctors decided to go forward with GI motility tests known as Anorectal and Colonic Manometry. These tests showed that even with the bad part of the colon removed, my nerve cells don't cooperate the way they should, and I was diagnosed with a second condition--Neuropathic Colonic Dysmotility associated with Hirschsprung's Disease. My Mommy and Daddy help manage my digestive system with both daily stimulant and osmotic laxatives, as well as maintenance antibiotics to manage the SIBO. COVID brought a whole new level of fear. Any high fevers have the potential to slow my system down to the point of needing colonic irrigations again, putting me more at risk for enterocolitis. Waiting almost 2 years before I could get vaccinated felt like an eternity, and we even had to fight to get my Daddy added to the category of First Responders being vaccinated during Phase 1. Until Mommy and Daddy were both vaccinated, they didn't think they would have been able to do everything they could to keep me healthy. FINALLY, as of December 4, 2021, I got my second dose and was fully vaccinated against the potential dangers COVID could hold for me! It could not have come at a better time—on January 26, 2022, we left school early because I had a fever and sore throat, and I tested positive almost immediately with a home antigen test. I felt off for a few days with cold-like symptoms, and the fever did slow my system enough to start in with SIBO symptoms, but other than that, I was back to running circles around Mommy and Daddy before quarantine was even up! It has been a roller coaster ride from the beginning, but I am happy to report that finally, I seem to have turned the corner and at least started to progress as a "normal", happy, and feisty 8-year-old 2nd-Grader! Nothing can stop me!! My goal is to bring awareness to my disease, just as March of Dimes did with polio over 80 years ago! I have already brought some awareness to both March of Dimes and Hirschsprung's Disease through my family! Watch my stories here! https://local12.com/news/local/veteran-officer-retires-after-29-years-with-cpdhttps://local12.com/news/local/local-family-makes-plea-to-ohio-governor-to-get-police-officers-vaccinated-cincinnati https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2021/03/03/police-officer-pushed-for-vaccine- All babies, whether they‘re born early or right on time, benefit from advances in prenatal and postpartum care made possible by the March of Dimes. Your fundraising directly supports the mission. We‘re so proud to say that we‘re all March of Dimes babies — you, me, and future generations of kids. Every step you take brings us closer to the next medical breakthrough at the five March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centers. Just last year, they raised $20 million to fund the best researchers and scientists looking for solutions to the biggest problems that threaten moms and babies. Change the future. Start now. Every dime counts!