Laine’s Story

Site created on April 21, 2022

Welcome to Laine’s page! We thought creating this page would help update our family and friends on our sweet girl’s condition over the next month and a half. We truly appreciate all the prayers and support during this time.

On September 13th, Jeffrey and I went to our routine 20 week sonogram and discovered that Laine had a very rare condition called Bladder Exstrophy. Only about 1 in 50,000 babies are born with this. This is when the bladder forms on the outside of the body.

Once we left that appointment we hit the ground running trying figure out what exactly this diagnosis meant and wanted to find the very best pediatric urologist in the US. After interviewing with 6 different doctors we made the decision that we will be heading to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to be under the care of Dr. Douglas Canning.

Laine was born on January 23, 2022 in Dallas, TX. She stayed three nights in the nicu, so they could monitor and do several different tests to make sure everything looked ok. She was able to come home to her two very excited and “helpful” big sisters.

The last three months have flown by. It’s been so much fun watching her grow and to be able love on our sweet girl before her two big surgeries.

April 22nd is her first part of the surgery. This is the the reconstruction of her pelvis. She will be put into a full body cast over the weekend to prepare for the 2nd stage of the surgery.

April 25th is the major portion of the surgery. This consists of the Bladder Exstrophy Repair, Umbilicoplasty, Ureteral Reimplant, bladder neck reconstruction, and Espispadias Repair. This will be an extremely long day for both Laine and her doctors. We ask that you will cover Laine, Dr Canning and his entire medical team in prayer.

We are beyond thankful for all the prayers during this time. We know this is just the start of the Bladder Exstrophy journey for our Laine but we pray that she will astonish the doctors and us all!

All our love,
The Merritts

Newest Update

May 20, 2022

Journal entry by Caitlin Merritt —


We are heading HOME tomorrow!!! We have never been more thankful to hear those words. Dr. Canning feels comfortable sending us home early because of our wonderful urologist in Dallas, Dr. Jacobs! We will be meeting with him for a weekly ultra sound to keep an eye on Laine’s bladder and kidneys. Dr. Jacobs made the trek to Philadelphia to sit in on Laine’s bladder closure surgery a few weeks ago. She will remain in her full body cast for two more weeks and hopefully will get the green light to take it off. In July, we will head back to Philadelphia to have her Suprapubic catheter removed. 

We know this is just the start of her Bladder Exstrophy journey, but we are so thankful to have this first part behind us! We are so proud of Laine and all of her amazing Doctors and nurses at CHOP! 

Thank you to everyone who has prayed, called, texted, bought us dinner, coffee, and sent toys for the big girls. It’s meant more than you will ever know! We are looking forward to a slow and relaxing summer at home!! 

All our love,
The Merritts 
Read More of the journal titled "May 20, 2022"
  • Laine’s hero, Dr. Canning!
    Laine’s hero, Dr. Canning!
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