GTubes: What Are They and Why Do Some Kids Need Them?

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Energy is vital to any superhero's mission, so growing heroes must get their daily balance of nutrition to keep their adventures going!

One of the most important ways a kid can get their energy is from nutritious food and a healthy diet. Typically, this is accomplished by eating a healthy balance of proteins, vegetables, starches, and fruits by mouth. But what about kids who can't eat by mouth? How can they be assured that they receive the appropriate nutrition? One way that some kids get their food is through a GTube.

A GTube, or Gastrostomy Tube, is a surgically placed device in the belly that directly pipes enteral (liquid nutrition) formula into the stomach.

Kids need GTubes for different reasons. Sometimes, GTubes are placed when a child has difficulty swallowing, has congenital disabilities that interfere with their ability to eat, or has difficulty meeting milestones regarding their weight or nutrition absorption.

GTubes are placed only in extreme situations when a child cannot physically have nutrition through their mouth. Children and parents first meet with their doctors, Gastroenterologists, and care teams. Before, during, and after the procedure, the child and family are given instructions about GTube care, feedings, and potential problems they can run into. All of this is vital to proper care and use of GTubes.

GTubes can be a pivotal part of a child's developmental progress. But sometimes can be a point of frustration. Having the ability to eat by mouth compromised can be an uncomfortable thought, and those feelings are valid. An important note is being able to relate to your child's needs for growth and adequate nutrition. How you and your child approach life with a GTube are strictly personal to your family's journey. Utilizing the knowledge of your healthcare team and other parent-led GTube communities on social media can benefit you.

Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive and be Super, and that starts with healthy nutrition!

Check out these GTube-themed and Nutrition stories we've enjoyed, and feel free to start the conversation in the comments below!

Happy New Year!

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Hello to the new year!

2023 is here and we’re so excited to share our plans for the coming year.

But first, let’s catch up with what the SuperCaptainBraveMan team did in 2022!

This year, Kyle turned 16. And by the end of the year, he has grown to an amazing 4 feet 4 inches. Which means that sooner rather than later, he’ll be taller than both Nurse Brigette and Nurse Leah!

2022 was a year of collaborations for us.

Partnering with O & P in Motion, 2 murals featuring SuperCaptainBraveMan are now proudly displayed on the outside of their Los Angeles location.

We also had the privilege to collaborate with Marc Laver and his initiative, Jonnie and Friends. This inspiring initiative led the restoration of Universal Universe’s All Access Playground. We are so thankful and honored to be part of such a lovely project.

And we here at SuperCaptainBraveMan want to send out a special thanks to Fenton Primary School for hosting our first live book reading since the pandemic. We love sharing our stories with kids and have missed seeing all of the excited faces live and in person.

New Year, New Merch!

We’ve added more items to our shop! In addition to our T-shirts, you can now order hats, beanies, PJ pants, and “One Brave Kid” shirts. Even our four legged friends can get their SuperCaptainBraveMan on with our doggie kerchiefs featuring Mochi!

Head over to our shop to grab some garb to dress in SuperCaptainBraveMan head to toe!

This year—more than most—reminded us all that we are beyond grateful for each and every one of you. Your support, comments, and likes mean the world to us.

Our continued love for creative stories that showcase inclusivity are at the heart of everything we do. From diabetes to Down Syndrome, SuperCaptainBraveMan strives to teach kids about kindness, empathy, and the power to connect to the superhero inside.

Happy 2023!

Comment below with your New Year’s resolutions and hopes for the coming 12 months.

Stay safe and stay brave, SuperCaptainBraveFAM!

Celebrating 5 Years of SuperCaptainBraveMan

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Hello, SuperCaptainBraveFAM!

It’s Nurse Leah!

April was a very busy month for us. The final adults in our team got vaccinated, some of our kids went back to in-person learning, and last but not least, we celebrated Kyle’s 15th birthday!

If you follow us on YouTube, you might have seen the interview series I did with Jennifer Norman, Paul Norman, and Victor Lodevico to commemorate SuperCaptainBraveMan’s 5th year anniversary.

If you haven’t seen them, scroll down and watch them now! There are also links to transcripts of the interviews, if you read faster than we talk.

Nurse Leah sits down for a chat with SuperCaptainBraveMan co-creator, Paul Norman

Talking about inspiration, drawings, and quizzes with illustrator, Victor Lodevico.

Catching up with SuperCaptainBraveMan co-creator, Jennifer Norman.

World 1-2: What is CPR?

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Hello, SuperCaptainBraveFAM!

Last week, we learned about the lungs and how we breathe. Today, we’ll learn about a way we can help someone in case they suddenly can’t breathe on their own. At least, until emergency medical personnel arrive.

Cardiopulmonary means relating to the heart and lungs.

Cardiopulmonary means relating to the heart and lungs.

This process is called Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR.

Cardio means heart.

Pulmonary means lungs.

Resuscitation means to resume or revive.

Sometimes, a person can collapse very suddenly. Because of an accident or physical problem, their heart can stop beating and their breathing will pause as well. This can be very bad because the reason we breathe is to exchange carbon dioxide for fresh oxygen. And oxygen is essential to creating energy in our bodies.

In World 1-1, we learned that the lungs inflate and deflate when we breathe. This allows air to travel into our bodies from our nose and mouth. Muscles move to expand the space in our chest and exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen.

The heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body and is very important!

Resting in our chest along with the lungs is the heart. The heart needs to be close to the lungs because it’s the muscle that needs fresh oxygen the most. It pumps and pushes blood to the rest of the body and has the most important job ever.

The heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body and is very important!

Thanks to the heart pumping oxygen rich blood in our bodies, we can do things like dance, walk, work, play with our family, and sleep soundly.

So, when there are problems with our hearts, there are very serious problems with our bodies.

Modern CPR as we know it was introduced to the world in 1960 by Dr. William Kouwenhoven, Dr. James Jude, and Dr. Peter Safar. Thanks to the work of this team, they made it possible for everyday people to help those that collapse and need help.

“…anyone, anywhere can initiate cardiac resuscitation procedures. All that is needed are two hands.”

– Dr. William Kouwenhoven

According to the American Heart Association, there are two types of CPR.

Some people trained in CPR carry special one time use mouth guards to make mouth-to-mouth resuscitation safer.

The first is known as conventional CPR.

Some people trained in CPR carry special one time use mouth guards to make mouth-to-mouth resuscitation safer.

It’s the kind of CPR usually shown in TV shows and movies. Chest compressions are done along with mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths. It’s a multi-step process and one that you can get certified in after taking a CPR class.

This type of CPR is performed by healthcare professionals and others certified in CPR. It’s used to help people of all ages in an emergency situation.

The second type is called compression-only CPR or Hands-Only CPR.  

This kind of CPR doesn’t require any mouth-to-mouth. Since there is no mouth-to-mouth, Hands-Only CPR is a great way to help in an emergency if direct contact with the other person’s mouth isn’t advisable.

This type of CPR can be performed by anyone and is recommended only for adults & teenagers who suddenly collapse in out-of-hospital situations.

Unlike conventional CPR, Hands-Only CPR is made up of 2 steps.

  • Step 1: Activate the emergency response system.

    • Call 9-1-1 or have someone nearby do that.

  • Step 2: Push hard and fast in the center of their chest.

    • The best way to keep track is to push to the beat of a fast song like:

      • “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees

      • “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

      • “MMMBop” by Hanson

      • “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga

      • “Hips Don’t Lie” by Shakira

If you still have the model lung we made in World 1-1, you can see how Hands-Only CPR works to inflate our lungs. The movement of chest compressions also helps mimic the way the heart beats and keeps the blood moving in our bodies.

Hands-Only CPR Example Using the Model Lung Experiment

According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. (Cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions or stops working correctly.)

In fact, another study showed that sixth graders are able to perform Hands-Only CPR correctly once shown how to do it. CPR training is a high school graduation requirement in 34 states so far. In our home state of California, it’s been a requirement since 2018!

There are several different jobs that require CPR certification besides healthcare providers. Firefighters, police officers, child care providers, and flight attendants all need to learn CPR in the event someone collapses.

But Hands-Only CPR doesn’t need certification!

There are even kiosks that give a quick lesson on Hands-Only CPR located in different airports across the US. The lesson includes a video introduction and tutorial. As well as an interactive practice session on the manikin attached to the kiosk. A list of airports with these kiosks can be found here.

Watch below for a quick video on how Hands-Only CPR works. So easy, even Ken Jeong can do it!

Don't be afraid to use Hands-Only CPR, you could save a life!

Getting CPR training is a useful skill for everyone to have. In person classes might not be available right now, but once they are, we fully encourage everyone to get CPR certified.

After learning how the lungs work and how important oxygen is for us, knowing how to give aid in an emergency is a great way to help save a life.

So, remember to stay safe and stay brave, SuperCaptainBraveFAM!

The journey continues next week on…

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