Casey and Liam Jastram

Liam and Casey were born four weeks early. They spent several days in NICU before coming home to big sisters Charlie, Ellie, and Rylie. 

The twins were still learning to suck and swallow. The family needed a pediatrician who could handle a crowd, and handle twins who needed extra care. 

Parents Cassandra and Mike chose pediatric nurse practitioner Niki Feran, APRN, PNP in the Lakeville Clinic, close to the family’s Lakeville home. (Niki now sees patients in the Farmington Clinic.)

“We hit it off with her right away,” Cassandra says. “With two kids, you’re dealing with both at the same time. Niki is able to take in all the information we’re spewing at her and address each thing separately.  

“Niki listens really well, and gives us options – what to look for, and what to look into,” Cassandra says.  

“She’s pretty thorough,” Mike adds. “We’re very satisfied with Niki.” 

Mike likes that when they check in for an appointment, clinic staff rooms them right away “so we’re not sitting in the waiting room, especially with twins.” 

And Niki’s easy to reach outside the clinic, too: “When I use the MyHealth Info app to message her, she gets back to me within 5 minutes,” Cassandra says. “With five kids, that’s really helpful and important.” 

MyHealth Info is a big help to coordinating all their kids’ care, Mike says: Clinic staff make sure during appointments that information is updated in MyHealth Info so it’s easily accessible right away. Plus, having a single account for all their kids is really convenient.  

The family shifted from another clinic shortly after the babies came home. Niki cares for all five siblings now. (Past visits to the Lakeville and Farmington clinics made it an easy choice: “We’ve liked the care there from the get-go,” Mike says.) 

Liam and Casey are doing very well these days: “They can eat and eat and eat,” Cassandra laughs. 

They’re meeting developmental milestones, too. At their six-month checkup, Casey and Liam were both at 90% for weight. 

Cassandra’s advice for other parents? “Align the care you are looking to receive with your values,” she says. “Don’t settle – it’s your children, their bodies, and your needs.” 

One big, happy family.