Throughout his childhood, Randy Peterson has had an affinity for fire trucks, ambulances and sirens. Unlike typical boys who are attracted to the noise and lights, they hold a deeper meaning for Randy, reminding him of his early memories of being rushed to the emergency room.

Randy was born with an undiagnosed hormone imbalance that causes his thyroid to double in size, leaving a golf-ball sized lump on his throat. While still an infant, symptoms became apparent when Randy turned blue and had difficultly breathing. After being treated at his community hospital, Randy suffered another more serious episode at age 15 months.

“His airways were basically collapsing,” recalls his father Ken. “It was too complicated for our local hospital to handle, so a helicopter rushed Randy to Loyola.” Randy’s mother Alice adds, “It’s incredibly scary when your child is sick with no explanation.”

At the Ronald McDonald’s Children Hospital of Loyola, Jerold Stirling, M.D. and his team stabilized Randy for the night and treated him with steroids for the swelling. In order to find out the cause of the problem, they scheduled tests and exploratory surgery. Although the case was made complex by the position of the mass in his neck, the surgical staff was able to successfully remove the tissue.

A strong-willed child, Randy regained consciousness, in recovery, much earlier than expected. “He became alert very shortly after the surgery,” explains Alice. “He woke up and saw his Grandpa, and immediately called out for ‘Pa Pa!’” Needless to say, the family was delighted at Randy’s rapid recovery.

During his stay at Loyola, Randy was diagnosed with a thyroid condition that is treatable with medication. By raising his hormone levels, Dr. Stirling was able to suppress the growth of the small tumor in Randy’s neck.

Although Randy's unique condition and treatment still poses its challenges and complications, today, Randy remains a happy and active 11-year-old boy. Dr. Stirling is leading a team treating his medical problem and he and Randy have established a lifelong friendship. In between frequent checkups, Randy stays busy getting good grades, playing as point-guard for his village’s basketball team and playing with his three siblings.

Ken and Alice often recall the relief they felt after observing the care Randy received at Loyola. “Despite the seiousness of Randy's condition, the way we were treated and the way everything was handled was very comforting,” says Ken. “We always felt that the situation would be resolved. We never had any doubt, because of the quality doctors that were involved and as long as Randy remains in the care of Dr. Stirling and his team at Loyola, we know we can handle whatever other issues may arise throughout Randy's life.”