For the first ten months of life, Eva, 10, seemed just like any other baby —happy, curious, and thriving. Seemingly out of nowhere, a minor gastrointestinal concern soon spiraled into a series of health complications that left her family searching for answers. Eva struggled with severe abdominal pain that left her unable to be her usual social and playful self.

Just two years later, Liv, 8, entered the world with even more severe hurdles that would shape her early years as well. From the moment she was born, her tiny body struggled to digest even the most basic nourishment and spent the first six months of her life in the NICU. Similar to her sister Eva, debilitating pain and inflammation became a constant battle for her.

After frequent trips to the emergency room became a part of their routine, countless doctor visits, and revolving life around the girls’ symptoms, Eva and Liv’s mom discovered the Director of the Nicklaus Children’s Division of Gastroenterology and Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Dr. Alisa J Muniz Crim along with fellow Gastroenterologists and head of the IB-Stim program at Nicklaus Children’s, Dr. Heidi Gamboa.

The two worked as a team to treat the sister’s symptoms and after exhausting all other treatment efforts, Dr. Gamboa advised IB-Stim. The non-invasive solution, IB-Stim, is a battery-operated device that sends gentle electrical impulses into cranial nerve bundles located in the ear. This stimulation targets brain areas that process pain and helps reduce functional abdominal pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Nicklaus Children’s was recently named one of four IB-Stim Centers of Excellence by NeurAxis, the only one in the region.

Eva was the first to receive the four-week life-changing treatment and was ready to embrace her new life of returning to school and playing with friends. Both sisters share a special bond with each other as they supported each other through their medical journey by standing by each other's side, distracting each other during hospital visits with stories and simply being a calming presence for each other. Soon after, it was Liv’s turn to receive the IB-Stim treatment with Eva by her side to reassure her through the process.

Along with gastroenterology, Liv and Eva are seen by a multidisciplinary team at Nicklaus Children’s including, endocrinologists, neurologists, nephrologists, hematologists and immunologists.

“The team of experts at Nicklaus Children’s, along with Dr. Gamboa and Dr. Crim, have been such a cornerstone in Liv and Eva’s Journey,” says Laurine, Liv and Eva’s mom. “Their expertise and unwavering support gave our family hope during the darkest moments, and we see them as not just doctors, but trusted friends.”

Today, Liv and Eva are thriving in ways their family once only dreamed of. Liv continues to explore her passions of crocheting intricate patterns and Eva is flourishing as a social butterfly. Their family, who once spent sleepless nights worrying about their health, now marvels at how far they’ve come.