Station WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina is in the midst of a fund raising event for Duke University Medical Center. Part of the program is to present real-life stories about the hospital.
Today, an interview with Jaymes Foster was broadcast. Lynda Loveland is one of the stations top personalities and a personal friend of Clay Aiken and Jaymes Foster. She introduced Jaymes Foster to the radio audience and then played an interview with Jaymes with Jami Caskey who ably guided Jaymes through the interview that took place last Sunday.
Lynda started the program by explaining that Parker Foster Aiken was born in the Raleigh area on August 8th 2008. Because Clay has worked with children for many years, Lynda felt that Clay was meant to be a father.
Jaymes told about how at 4 weeks, Parker became very ill. He could not hold down any nourishment and both parents became very concerned. They took Parker to Durham Regional Hospital where they kept him for about 8 hours. At the hospitals suggestion, the family took Parker to Duke Children’s Hospital.
Jaymes, Clay, and Parker
The staff of Duke immediately began testing Parker and they quickly had a diagnosis. Parker had Pyloric Stenosis, a condition where the muscle at the bottom of the stomach overgrows and obstructs the stomach. Although the diagnosis is somewhat common, it was urgent that Parker have surgery immediately.
Jaymes reported that is was terrifying and stressful, especially knowing that Parker had to go under anesthesia. But the staff at the hospital did everything they could to reassure both parents and keep them informed as to what was happening.
The results of the surgery were immediate. Parker stopped throwing up and regained his strength quickly. The baby was in the hospital for 4 nights.
Jaymes wanted everyone to know how wonderful the doctors and nurses were. They were able to keep the parents calm, comfortable and well-informed. Jaymes felt that these strangers treated her child as they would there own.
Parker is doing very well now. He just celebrated his 6 month birthday. Jaymes remarked that she and Clay think he is just beautiful. She knows that all parents think their child is beautiful, however, Parker is beautiful!
According to Lynda Loveland, Parker is just the cutest, happiest little kid and a real sweetheart.
Good Luck to Duke University Medical Center in raising much money to help save lives. And a big thank-you to Jaymes Foster for sharing her story of Parker’s successful recovery.
Audio (click on link to listen): Jaymes interview on WRAL FM