Ochsner Children’s Transforms Preemie’s Life with Life-Saving Surgery

At just 31 weeks into her pregnancy, Rue’s mother, Sarah L., went into premature labor in May 2023 after experiencing a life-threatening spike in blood pressure and delivered her daughter at Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“It was terrifying being told I was to deliver that early, but it was the only option for her and me,” Sarah said. “They allowed my husband in the delivery room to cut the cord before they rushed Rue to the NICU, so I appreciate that small sense of normalcy in an otherwise powerless situation.”

After one of Rue’s nurses at Ochsner Baptist noticed she wasn’t behaving as a typical newborn should, it became clear that Rue’s journey would include unique health needs in addition to the adjustments that come with being born premature.

After a series of tests, Rue was diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis and short bowel syndrome. Necrotizing enterocolitis is a disease found in premature newborns that causes portions of the intestines to die. Short bowel syndrome is a disorder where a portion of the small intestine is unable to absorb nutrients, which can result in malnutrition. Both diagnoses can be fatal and require surgery.

“It has a forever impact, and, for her, it is a diagnosis that has no cure,” Sarah said. “She works every day to get back to a place of normal, but she will always have obstacles with her digestion.”

Rue and her family were thoughtfully supported by Rue’s care team, who provided clear, step-by-step guidance and helped ensure the family felt informed and reassured throughout the process. Sarah said this was a lifesaver. Rue’s diagnosis, however, redefined their lives as hospitalizations, surgeries, therapies, and the complexities of navigating a child reliant on feeding tubes became their new reality. Yet through it all, Rue’s family found strength in knowledge, advocacy, and the unwavering support from her medical team.

“Dr. Christina Gomez-Juge, a neonatologist, had so much empathy and really softened some hard blows,” Sarah said. “And Dr. Vincent R. Adolph was her general surgeon for both of her big operations. We can't thank him enough. She was a complicated case, and he did everything he could to set her up for success.”

Sarah also praised the NICU nurses who cared for Rue (and her whole family) for three months: Richard Guthrie, Cassidy Cornes and Kristen Danna provided more than just medical care – they provided hope.

While in the NICU, Rue met Dr. Jasmeet Mokha, a pediatric gastroenterologist and medical director of the Intestinal Rehabilitation and Care Program at Ochsner Children’s. Dr. Mokha began working with Rue to strengthen her intestines and digestive system.

“We couldn't praise Dr. Mokha and his team enough,” Sarah said. “They have been approachable, encouraging, and great to problem solve with. We have seen such great results, which is a direct result of their guidance and treatment plan. My daughter Rue continues to exceed expectations. From the outside, you might not know she isn’t a typical toddler.”

Today, Rue is doing well and continues to defy the odds. Thanks to Ochsner Children’s Intestinal Rehabilitation and Care Program under Dr. Mokha’s guidance, she has made remarkable progress. By 15 months, Rue was able to shift from continuous feeds all day to continuous feeds only at night, with short, bolus feeds during the day. This was an unimaginable milestone in her early days. While feeding remains a delicate balance of trial and error, Rue’s resilience shines through as she steadily works toward independence from her feeding tube. Her progress is nothing short of inspiring, and from the outside, she looks every bit the lively, curious toddler she is.

Sarah and her husband’s hope for Rue is simple yet profound – that she will continue to adapt, thrive, and one day enjoy the simple pleasure of food without being phased by the medical obstacles she has faced so far.

Rue, we’re amazed at your journey and your story of courage and the extraordinary power of compassionate care. You inspire us all.