Amber Essner
Medical Mama Bear
“I feel like I value every single moment and milestone more than I would if I were not a medical mom.” - Amber
Tell us a little about yourself. What is your background and what do you enjoy doing outside of being a medical mom?
I was a 6th grade language arts teacher before I unexpectedly became a stay at home medical mom. I went on spring break in 2018, and never returned to the classroom due to Rowan's emergency c-section, NICU stay, and complex needs. I've always enjoyed DIY-ing everything from my curriculum at school to crafts at home, so creating as a way to find a new purpose and support other families came naturally.
I've been married for 16 years. Rowan is my only child and he will be 8 years old this week (3/25).
Can you share a little about your child and your family’s feeding tube journey?
We've never been able to find a true diagnosis for Rowan. He's a medical mystery with lots of unique characteristics. During my anatomy scan ultrasound, it was found that he was severely growth restricted. I was referred to specialists that found many issues on the ultrasound that were incompatible with life, including the supposed lack of a cerebellum. Without a doubt in their minds, the doctors told us he would not survive. He did not grow much over the course of the next 10 weeks, but he was born at 31 weeks weighing 1 pound and 10 inches long.
He was in the NICU for 186 days, intubated and very sick most of that time. He initially went home on oxygen and thickened liquids, but within a few months we were scheduling his g-tube placement surgery due to aspiration and failure to thrive.
He still uses his g-tube, though he has made some progress with eating orally. He still has an extremely limited diet and has been diagnosed with Pediatric Feeding Disorder. Rowan loves his tubie. He does not remember a time without it, so it is part of him. Why do you think specialized nutrition support to patients at home, like your company provides, is overall beneficial to the patient?
What inspired you to start Medical Mama Bear?
During our time in the NICU, we had a primary nurse who always tried to bring joy and fun to our very serious situation. When Medical Mama Bear began in 2019, I made funny stickers with relatable sayings just for other medical parents because our nurse showed me a way to make the worst scenario a little bit better through humor. Some of those original novelty stickers are still available today although I primarily create feeding pump stickers, which also bring so much joy!
Did you always see yourself starting a small business, or did it grow naturally from your Tubie mom experience?
I thought I'd be a teacher through retirement, but I've found a new calling through my tubie mom experience. The idea of running a business was not new to me because I come from a family of small business owners. My parents' business was started in 1962 and is still going strong today! I've held many roles in their business over the years, including bookkeeping and marketing. Although I was nervous that no one would like my ideas or products, I was not nervous about the actual business side of starting Medical Mama Bear.
Are you designing and running everything yourself, or do you have a team helping you now?
I am a one-woman show over here! It can be exhausting, but the joy these little stickers bring my customers keep me going! The stories I'm told of how my pump stickers brighten up hospital rooms and make their medical equipment less sterile truly inspire me and remind me that this matters. Each pump sticker is designed and manufactured by me from start to finish in my office between homeschooling Rowan and therapy appointments.
Your pump stickers have become really popular with Tubie families. How do you come up with the designs?
I have always loved buying Rowan those popular bamboo pajamas in all the cute prints. When I started designing pump stickers, I was inspired by those PJ companies to offer the cutest prints for everyday use and seasonal prints for holidays. I am always on the hunt for inspiration for new prints! Classic prints and the newest trendy prints are in the shop at all times! I listen when customers request different styles, and I also try to make sure I have a wide variety of prints, including prints that appeal to adults, not just kids! Tons of my customers change their prints up by the month and holiday, and I've had some customers use the exact same sticker for a year!
What brings you the most joy as a medical mom?
I often find myself with tears of joy and gratitude over the little things. I feel like I value every single moment and milestone more than I would if I were not a medical mom. I see how hard he's fought every bite of food he's ever eaten, and that makes some random weekday lunch special when otherwise may have been mundane. Just the fact that he exists in this world brings me joy!
I also find joy in supporting other medical parents based on my own experience by sharing "tubie tips" or making silly relatable videos where I've attached googly eyes onto our feeding pump.
Medical Mama Bear shop