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Meet David
Mike and Cheri waited a long time to meet their son David (pronounced Dah-veed). When they finally met the 7 month old at an orphanage in Bogota, Colombia, the months of paperwork, phone calls and travel arrangements made the wait worthwhile. “It was such an incredible moment,” recalls Mike. “We were just overcome with emotion.”
While in Bogota, Mike and Cheri learned that David was experiencing respiratory problems, which was likely due to the pollution and high altitude. “Our hope was that when we brought him home to Minnesota, he would improve,” Cheri says.
After having their new son home for a few weeks, they didn’t see much improvement in David’s breathing. “He wasn’t getting better,” recalls Cheri, “and he would tire easily and wheeze after crawling.”
Mike and Cheri decided that David should see a pulmonologist for an evaluation. A friend recommended Terri Laguna, M.D., a pediatric pulmonologist at University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. Dr. Laguna specializes in treating kids with asthma, cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases.
At David’s first appointment, Dr. Laguna validated Mike and Cheri’s concerns. She diagnosed David with asthma and worked with the family to develop a treatment plan. “We had a fantastic experience with Dr. Laguna,” says Cheri. “She listened to our concerns and included us in the care decisions.”
Cheri and Mike say that they also appreciated the treatment from other hospital staff. ”Everyone that we met was amazing,” notes Cheri. “The reception desk staff, the nurses, the radiologists — they were all interested in us on a personal level and made every effort to ensure that our family was cared for.”
Dr. Laguna prescribed inhaled steroid medication for David to control his symptoms. The Schoonvelds say that they saw a difference almost immediately. “The change was amazing,” recalls Mike. “David had more energy and endurance, and the heavy breathing and wheezing that we had become accustomed to, went away.”
Now, almost 2 years old, David runs and plays without the breathing discomfort. “We’re so pleased with the treatment we received at University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital,” notes Mike. “Cheri and I continue to marvel at how well David is doing.”
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