Okay... I NEVER watch the news. nothing ever interesting is going on. especially when I can read things on the internet. Especially never local news. Unless I want to see a skateboarding bulldog or a waterskiing squirrel. Anyway, my roomate was watching something and the news was on after it. And they started talking about the make-a-wish foundation and so on. So I was about to turn the channel... then they mentioned an 9 year old and a name I recognized. It was a generic name and could have been anybody, but there he was, a child I took care of as a cardiac anesthesia fellow.
The reason I remember this kid is that he was truely one in a million. The surgery he was having as an eight year old was a coronary artery bypass. He had a disease called hereditary familial hypercholesterolemia. The problem for this kid was that he had the worst kind. He had cholesterol levels 8 to 10 times what a normal person would have, thus he had premature disease of the arteries feeding his heart. Most patients who have this type of surgery are in their fifties and above.
What killed me was that on the news report they did say he had coronary artery disease, but they said that "Sometimes he doesn't feel well" and left it at that. I guess you can't say "Sometimes his heart doesn't get enough blood" on TV. Well at least he got a new puppy.
Names and identifying characteristics of patients and all involved have been removed to protect the innocent. Statements here solely represent the opinions of the author. Statements here are not medical advice. Please seek the care of a physician. If it is an emergency, call 911 or go to a local emergency room
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1 comment:
I don't know how you do it, the medical profession itself is so incredible. I myself wish I could have handled doing something in that field, it is so rewarding and disappointing, I can only imagine.
The older I get the more thankful and blessed I am. I let the powers that be, no matter what that is, that I am aware of my good health and am soo friggin thankful. Thanks for your posting sleepy. I love reading about your life and experience.
PS - You know the puppy for the little guy is all the love and happiness he needs to move on. Kids live in the moment and if that is all he has left, the puppy will be his guide. Just thinking, thanks again.
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