Kindergartners reconnect after bladder surgery

By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

Two kindergartners reunited on the ninth floor of Riley Hospital for Children recently, nearly five years after they were introduced to each other as babies, both dealing with the same urological condition.

Braelyn Moore did most of the talking in the 9W playroom, as a sleepy Charles Wahnsiedler relaxed in a wagon, watching as Braelyn made sand art before he decided to join in.

Nearby, parents JT and Megan Wahnsiedler and Bethany Moore talked about the support they receive from one another as their kids face a difficult diagnosis.

Both children are recovering from their second surgery – in this case, bladder augmentation – for bladder exstrophy, a rare birth defect in which the bladder develops outside the body in utero. Riley pediatric urologist Dr. Richard Rink performed both surgeries at Riley on Oct. 17.

Nearly five years ago, just as the COVID pandemic locked down the world, the two had their first surgery as babies, with Dr. Rink operating on them then as well.

“We literally saw Indy close down around us from our room,” Moore said about those early days in March 2020 when the world faced its biggest health crisis in 100 years.

Braelyn was about 6 months old then, while Charles was 14 months old. Both children were born at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville – the Wahnsiedlers are from Evansville, and Bethany and Lucas Moore are from Ellery, Illinois, about an hour from Evansville. Both families have three kids, ages 3, 5 and 8.

“We just love little Charles,” Moore said. “He’s our buddy. Charles is our calm and quiet man. They balance each other out.”

“He colored me a Ninja turtle,” Braelyn said, before sharing her top-secret plan to rid Riley of the catheters that she dislikes.

“We’re gonna bust out the window and take all the catheters from the hospital. I’ll plunge myself down the windows, find a manhole and go in,” she said – in all seriousness. “They’ll have to go to Florida to find them.”

Spoken like a true Ninja Turtle. Even Charles smiles at her grand plan.

When the parents of both kids heard the diagnosis of bladder exstrophy, which occurs in about one in every 40,000 births, it was overwhelming at first, but they were connected through a support group and found comfort in knowing that others were going through a similar journey.

“Bladder exstrophy is when the bladder is on the outside and it’s flipped inside out,” Moore explained. “Because of that, Braelyn’s hips weren’t closed either, so in the first surgery, we fixed her hips and moved her bladder back in. In this one, we had to create that bladder neck so hopefully we can potty-train. We’re going back to school and she’s going to be a big kid.”

The two moms bonded after meeting at Riley in 2020 for the first surgical repair. Visitation rules at that time meant only one parent could stay with their child, and the moms won that contest.

“We joked about being quarantined in the hospital,” Wahnsiedler said. “We would see each other in the hall every once in awhile when I would take Charles around in the wagon.”

In fact, the moms have photos from that first admission showing each child in a wagon making the rounds on the unit.

This time around, the families were free to interact, with the kids making crafts in the playroom and the parents talking about their appreciation for their care team.

“Dr. Rink, he’s fantastic, the best of the best,” Moore said. “He is informative and draws everything out so you understand.”

“He doesn’t downplay the surgery, but he makes you feel comfortable,” Wahnsiedler agreed. “He and his team are wonderful. To have somebody who is that good only three hours away is pretty awesome. We go to Riley for urology always.”

Sharon Benjamin is a nurse on 9W who took care of both kids during both admissions and is thrilled to see them doing so well.

“They’re both thriving,” she said. “That’s always good to see. They are the sweetest patients with great families, and their friendship is really cool.”

There may or may not be more bladder surgeries in these kids’ futures, but either way, they and their families plan to stay in touch.

“It will be nice to watch them grow,” Moore said.

Riley Children's Health is ranked No. 5 in the nation for pediatric urology care by U.S. News & World Report.

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org