Parent blog: Jennifer and Matthew Woodley

In their own words

Jennifer and Matthew Woodley 
Urbandale, Iowa

Born at 24 weeks gestation at 1 pound, our daughter Molly was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy when she was 2 1/2 years old. We did not feel we were getting the best medical care possible to best support our daughter, and as a result we requested to be referred to University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital in 2014. 

With four children, our family of six is treated with the utmost respect and understanding. Critical diagnoses such as intractable epilepsy have a toll on not only the child diagnosed, but their entire family, and UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital has always been sensitive to our entire family’s needs to ensure each visit is as comfortable as possible for all of those involved. 

The medical professionals have treated our daughter using a whole-patient philosophy; as parents, our observations and thoughts are very much taken into account, as well as those of other doctors inside and outside the hospital, when treating our daughter. This type of critical evaluation combined with the institution’s emphasis on research and their ability to listen to our daughter express her needs provides us with the absolute confidence that she now receives the best medical care possible.