A Lasting Bond: One Family’s Journey with Dr. Woodson at Pediatric ENT of Oklahoma
Now a thriving 12-year-old and avid dancer, Annie’s journey began with a challenge. “When she was born, she didn’t pass her hearing screenings,” Allison recalls. “She had fluid in her ears, and that led us into what became years of navigating ear infections, surgeries, and hearing concerns.”
Annie received her first set of ear tubes at just five months old. Over time, she would go on to have multiple sets placed and her adenoids removed. When the Cassadys realized her condition required ongoing, specialized care, they turned to Pediatric ENT of Oklahoma — where fate soon introduced them to Dr. Woodson.
“It was actually kind of a fluke,” Allison says with a laugh. “Our doctor was out, and we needed Annie to be seen. They said, ‘You can see my partner, Dr. Woodson.’ From that very first visit, we all instantly knew this was the right fit.”
What began as a routine visit quickly grew into a long-term partnership. Around age four, Annie was diagnosed with an immune disorder that makes it difficult for her body to produce the antibodies needed to fight respiratory infections. Her recurrent ear infections intensified — and that’s when Dr. Woodson discovered a cholesteatoma, a serious growth that can damage hearing structures within the ear.
“That diagnosis changed everything,” Allison says. “Dr. Woodson scheduled a complex surgery to remove the diseased tissue and rebuild her eardrum. When a snowstorm stranded her in New York the night before, she arranged to come in on a Saturday so Annie wouldn’t have to wait. That’s just the kind of doctor she is.”
That surgery was the first of three major ear reconstructions for Annie — and just part of what the Cassady family has faced. Her older brother, Leo, has endured similar struggles, with both ears affected by cholesteatoma. Between them, the two children have undergone more than 50 surgeries, the vast majority performed by Dr. Woodson.
Through it all, Allison says, Dr. Woodson’s compassion has never wavered. “She speaks directly to my kids. She explains things to them in a way they understand. They trust her completely. My kids have never cried going into surgery — not once — because they know Dr. Woodson is waiting for them. As a mom, that kind of trust is an immeasurable blessing.”
That trust extends beyond the clinic. When Leo earned his black belt, Dr. Woodson attended the celebration. And when Annie once dreamed of becoming an ENT, she dressed up as Dr. Woodson for career day — complete with a white coat and stethoscope.
Annie dressed as Dr. Woodson for Career Day in first grade
In recent months, Annie took another big step in her hearing journey. After years of using a bone-anchored hearing aid on a headband, she told Dr. Woodson she was ready for a more permanent solution. Together, they discussed and scheduled surgery for a new implant — a decision that opened a whole new world of sound. “After surgery, we were driving home, and Annie said, ‘Mom, what is that noise?’ It was the sound of tires on the road,” Allison says, smiling. “She’d never heard it before.”
Today, Annie dances with confidence, Leo continues to thrive, and the Cassadys say they can’t imagine their lives without Dr. Woodson. “She’s more than a physician,” Allison says. “She’s part of our story — and part of our family.”