After challenging experiences finding care options for their son with autism, an Onslow County family now rests assured they can count on team members at the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital to be professional, compassionate and accommodating.
In March, Dax Boling, 5, needed to undergo a barium swallow to assess gastrointestinal symptoms. The test requires patients to drink a thick liquid containing barium, which illuminates the outline of their upper digestive tract in x-ray tests. It was not the first time according to his mom, Jayme Boling, a social worker, and dad, Justin Boling, a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune, and those past experiences at previous hospitals across three states had caused Dax significant anxiety.
“The stress and the fallout afterward is just catastrophic for him,” Jayme said. “It takes like a day or two to regroup. It’s hard enough for anyone to go to the doctor, to take them to drink the barium swallow and to be touched and prodded and poked. It’s not fun for him to be held down crying.
“We’ve been to many doctors and we are usually met with frustration,” she continued. “People will try to speed through the appointment because it’s uncomfortable for Dax.”
“If he’s not comfortable then we’re not going to get the findings that we need to make sure that we’re improving his quality of life and to make sure that he’s getting the right medications or other treatment he might need,” Justin added. “That comfort is paramount to being able to help him. It’s important to have people who care and can make him comfortable, because not everyone can.”
A friend recommended Maynard Children’s Hospital to the Bolings. When Justin brought Dax to Greenville for his appointment, the youth asked if he had to get an x-ray. His parents told him that was the case, and Dax was afraid to the point of a panic attack in the parking lot. Justin, who had to experience the pain of watching his son undergo stressful treatments, was nervous too. That changed when they entered the hospital.
From the lobby, to the waiting room to the exam room, team members showed the family ECU Health’s values of professional, compassionate patient care. Dax was given the freedom to move around which helped him stay calm. Rather than being constrained by his treatments, Dax was shown support and given room to be a kid even in a medical environment.
“It was an entirely different experience at Maynard,” Jayme said. “Everyone was very kind to him. He was very nice, very comfortable.”
The barium swallow was as painless as possible, and the Bolings got the results they needed to monitor Dax’s condition. Jayme said the family plans to visit Maynard Children’s Hospital for any future procedures Dax might need, too.
“This was probably one of the most positive experiences I’ve had getting my son’s care,” Justin said. “I feel like everyone cared about him and everyone was very welcoming. Everyone was very understanding of our family. That means a lot as the parents of a neurodivergent child.
“At the end of the day, we are finally on the right path to getting Dax the appropriate care he needs.”
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