Seven-year-old Griffin Ray had gastric reflux so severe that he couldn’t sleep. Stomach acid would erupt in his throat, causing burning pain and waking him up repeatedly at night.
“It was really pretty bad,” Griffin recalled, now 12 years old. “I wasn’t getting good sleep and even tried sleeping sitting up. I was up at night, tired and sometimes grumpy. I’d miss some days from school or would have to go to the school nurse to get Pepto-Bismol.”
Now, antacids and interrupted sleep are in his past. Today, Griffin’s acid reflux is gone, thanks to a pediatric surgery at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center that’s typically performed on adults. Today, Griffin’s a kid who can again go to sleepovers, drink soda and eat pizza and spicy foods.
“It’s a night and day difference. He’s a new kid and can eat and do anything just as normal,” said his mother, Christine Ray, of central Iowa. “But my goodness, the testing he went through to get there! He felt just awful, and it was a long ordeal for someone as young as Griffin.”
Tests and discomfort
In 2019, alarmed by their son’s continuous discomfort, Christine and Clint Ray sought medical treatment for Griffin. The array of tests began. Around that time, Griffin was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a condition where breathing pauses or shallow breaths occur during sleep. At night, Griffin used a CPAP machine to deliver a steady stream of air pressure through a mask to keep his airways open during sleep.
A turning point began when he saw MercyOne pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Hazim Zaghloul, who gave Griffin medication to manage his condition and a battery of tests, including one where he wore a device in his throat and pushed a button each time he experienced reflux.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, often called GERD, happens when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus. This backwash is known as acid reflux, and it can irritate the lining of the esophagus.
“Toward the end, Griffin was very tired of tests and ready to be done, but Dr. Zaghloul asked us to trust him. He was so great and was with us every step of the way,” Christine said. “Griffin powered through like a champ.”
The tests, which revealed Griffin had a hiatal hernia, would be a prelude to surgery performed by MercyOne pediatric surgeon Dr. Ulises Garza Serna.
“Griffin was dealing with gastroesophageal reflux so severe he needed CPAP for almost a year when he went to sleep. Pediatric Gastroenterology was managing Griffin’s medications, and he did improve somewhat, but his quality of life wasn’t the best. We intervened with an anti-reflux procedure, and the result was immediate. Griffin’s quality of life improved a lot,” Dr. Garza said.
A new day
In November 2020, Dr. Garza performed fundoplication surgery, often called a “fundal wrap,” used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. The surgery involves wrapping the upper part of the stomach (the fundus) around the lower end of the esophagus to reinforce the valve between the stomach and the esophagus. This prevents stomach acid from backing up into the esophagus and causing reflux symptoms like heartburn.
The procedure also involved repairing Griffin’s hiatal hernia, a common cause of GERD that happens when the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm.
“It’s not a common procedure for kids, so there were quite a few medical students coming in to check on Griffin, which is great because it was kind of a rare thing,” Christine said. “We felt really blessed.”
For several weeks, Griffin had to slowly introduce solid foods into his diet and ate a lot of scrambled eggs and milkshakes during the healing process.
Reunited in healthier times
Because the surgery was during COVID, Griffin only saw Dr. Garza wearing a mask. Many months later, the two were at a store, and Dr. Garza recognized Griffin and smiled. “He asked, ‘Do you remember me? And Griffin said, ‘I remember your voice.’ It was so sweet,” Christine recalled. “There were hugs all around and Griffin told Dr. Garza, ‘I feel so much better!’”
Today, Griffin is super active playing sports, the French horn and volunteering.
“This story has a happy ending,” Christine concluded. “We’re so blessed to have had the help of MercyOne.”
MercyOne Des Moines Pediatrics Surgery specializes in pediatric surgical care. Ask your primary care provider for a referral.
