Katie Senter
Hi! My name is Katie and I'm Louise's mom! Louise has a trach and a gastrojejunal (GJ) tube and we are graduates of the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) at Cook Children's! We live a very happy, rewarding life, but it wasn't always that way. Louise was born with a very rare genetic disorder, pulmonary hypertension, as well as other medical issues. She received her trach after open-heart surgery and several near-death experiences. That first year, we spent over six months in several of the Intensive Care Units (ICU). It was hard. It was sad. It was scary. It was near impossible. We cried a lot. But we learned and grew a lot! Ultimately, the stress and pain of Louise's first year has turned into something really beautiful, and we are passionate about encouraging other families through their stay at the TCU. We know what it's like to have a baby with a trach outside of the hospital and we would be honored to answer any questions you may have. It's less scary than you think, and you can do it!