Laurel Schmiege

“I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis back in November of 2021. I rapidly declined and ended up hospitalized for malnutrition and dehydration the first time in February of 2022. Thus began the three-year struggle of getting an Enterra device, colloquially referred to as a gastric pacemaker.

I rapidly lost my ability to eat and drink and ended up having a feeding tube place in May of 2022 while I waited to meet with the surgeon who placed the pacemakers. I was unable to tolerate tube feeds, however, and had a tunneled PICC line placed and was on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for over a year. I struggled with infections related to having a central line and ended up with three blood infections.

My gastric pacemaker was placed in January of 2024 and saved my life. Without my gastric pacemaker, I would have been unable to get off of IV nutrition and hydration and would have died from an infection. My feeding tube has greatly improved my quality of life and allows me to vent my stomach and take my medications directly into my intestines to circumvent my stomach. I am now waiting to hear from a colorectal surgeon to get a loop ileostomy.

Without my medical devices, I would have died and been unable to graduate college. I have been able to travel and visit family and friends. I have been able to do genetics research in college. My medical devices are a part of me.”