Since she was two years old, Faith Bauman has suffered from recurring episodes of Clostridium difficile, commonly known as C. diff, a contagious bacterium that infects the large intestine and causes severe diarrhea and painful inflammation of the colon.
Nine-year-old Faith suffered from consistent vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. She was hospitalized multiple times for dehydration and dropping in weight.
After years of trying different treatments and nothing working, Faith’s mom, Susan, looked for answers and other opinions.
“We had heard that a fecal transplant could help Faith, so I went online and saw that The Valley Hospital offered it,” said Susan, a Middletown, New York native.
A fecal transplant is a procedure used to treat C. diff by transferring healthy donor stool into a patient’s colon to restore gut bacteria. This transplant can help control C. diff and keep the infection from recurring.
Susan and Faith were connected with J. Antonio Quiros, MD, Chair of Children’s Services for Valley Medical Group, and a pediatric gastroenterology specialist. After thorough testing, including stool testing, the team excluded other diseases and confirmed a C. diff diagnosis. Together, the clinical team and family decided to move forward with the fecal transplant on September 11, 2025.
“Dr. Quiros went above and beyond for my daughter and listened to all of my concerns,” said Susan. “For years, we were told her stomach pains were just a behavioral issue. I am beyond grateful that he considered my concerns, looked at her holistically addressing all active issues and was able to do the fecal transplant.”
Since her procedure, Faith has not had any recurrence of C. diff and has gained 25 pounds. She continues to have follow-ups with Dr. Quiros for monitoring.
“I have not heard Faith tell me she was going to vomit or be sick since her procedure,” said Susan. “Her appetite came back, she is gaining back weight, and her behaviors have changed because she is finally feeling well.”
“If any other parent is going through something similar with a sick child, make sure to just keep asking questions and find the right doctor who will listen to you and take the time to hear you,” said Susan. “I found that in Dr Quiros. Before, Faith was afraid to leave the house for fear she would be sick and was constantly suffering, and now, she is just an average kid.”
For more information about pediatric services at Valley, please visit ValleyHealth.com/ChildrensHealth