heart patient takes3jacksonhealth.org/library/connections/june-2010.pdf ·...

jackson health system

your resource for health and well being � june 2010

children’s summer heart problems � bone marrow transplant cures sickle cell

heartpatienttakes 3rdnationwide

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november 2009 � connections � C2


Jackson Health System

Corporate DirectorPublic Relations and Public AffairsEd O’Dell

EditorPat Morrissey/Havlin

Associate EditorsKathleen RohanAdam Taylor

Assistant EditorMadeline Barrios

Art Director/DesignerBarbara Scheer, M.F.A.

WritersSandra FiedlerPat Morrissey/HavlinJennifer Mooney PiedraKathleen Rohan

1611 N.W. 12th AvenueMiami, Florida 33136-1096Phone: 305-585-1111www.jhsmiami.org

Public Health TrustBoard of Trustees

OfficersChairman John H. Copeland IIIVice Chairman Angel Medina Jr.Secretary Georgena D. Ford, R.N.Treasurer Marcos José Lapciuc

TrusteesStanley H. ArkinJorge L. ArrizurietaGladys L. Ayala, Esq.Rosy CancelaErnesto A. de la FéJoaquin del CuetoAbraham A. GalbutSaif Y. Ishoof, Esq.County Commissioner Dorrin D. RolleJudy Rosenbaum, Ed.D.County Commissioner Javier D. SoutoMartin G. Zilber, Esq.

Ex-Officio MembersCounty Mayor Carlos AlvarezMichael E. Barron, M.D., FAHACounty Manager George M. BurgessPascal F. Goldschmidt, M.D., FACCD. Jane Mass, R.N., M.S.N., NEA-BCNilda Peragallo, Dr.P.H., R.N., FAANJanet PerkinsEneida O. Roldan, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.

Comments? Questions? Contact [email protected]

Cover photograph byJohn DeTemple/d.inc

Jackson Health System Connections ispublished twice a year by the PublicRelations Department of JacksonHealth System. All contents © JacksonHealth System. Reproduction in wholeor part without written permission isprohibited. Jackson Health System isan Equal Opportunity/AffirmativeAction Employer.

jacksonroundsCelebrity Rally RaisesMoney for HoltzChildren’s Hospital

the first Rally for Kids withCancer in Miami raised

money for Holtz Children’sHospital, the Jackson MemorialFoundation and IKF Wonder-fund. The star-studded eventfeatured nearly two dozencelebrities, who took part in ascavenger huntthroughout Miami.At the “pit stop” inAlamo Park, patientsfrom Holtz werepaired with a celebrityand given the task topaint their portrait.Celebrities includedEva Longoria Parkerfrom “DesperateHousewives” (pic-tured above left),Gilles Marini from“Brothers & Sisters” (picturedleft) and Eva La Rue and SofiaMilos from “CSI Miami.” Alsoparticipating was internationalartist Romero Britto, whocreated the Holtz logo.

Neonatal ICU Baby Is“Miss Congeniality”

aren’t we always told thatwe can achieve anything

with hard work and dedication?Melissa Alonso’s mother can

certainly attest to that fact.When Melissa was born withheart problems 15 years ago,she was cared for in HoltzChildren’s Hospital’s Neonatal

IntensiveCare Unit,and was apatient ofUM/HoltzpediatriccardiacsurgeonPeter L.Ferrer,M.D., overthe years.

“Otherkids made

fun of her because she was soskinny,” said Otilia Ramos. “SoI thought that maybe she’d liketo go to modeling classes.”

After only three years ofclasses, the 8th grade student

was named “Miss Congeniality”and “Miss Sweetness” in theMiss Quinceanera Latina 2010beauty pageant in April.

“I give thanks to God everyday,” said Otilia. “My daughterwouldn’t be here if it wasn’t forDr. Ferrer.”

Remodeled PediatricER Welcomes Children

it’s just awesome,” said NurseManager Vanessa Plunkett,

R.N., M.S.N., about the newlyremodeled and renovatedHarvey & Roberta ChaplinPediatric Emergency Room atJackson Memorial Hospital.“It’s kid-friendly with vibrantcolors and kid-sized furniture.”

Funded by the JacksonMemorial Foundation, theunit was reconfigured toprovide more open space andcreate two private rooms inthe triage area. There arecolorful prints on all the walls,and even the ceilings haveimages of birds and balloonsfor children to see when they’relaying down.M

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WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE WITH YOU some extraordinary stories ofpeople whose lives have been dramatically improved by the medical carethey received in Jackson Health System. These stories and more happenevery day throughout Jackson.

The teenager on our cover, Theo Koby, is winning national flowboardingmedals after always being told he couldn’t play sports. Dr. Paolo Rusconimade the difference in Theo’s life.

Madelin Dominguez endured daily gastric reflux so severe she could barely eat.Now she can have whatever she wants. Drs. Eddie Gomez and Moises Jacobs used aprocedure that didn’t even leave a scar.

Our “Close-Up” in this issue features an event that touched all of our lives: theJanuary earthquake in Haiti. Jackson employees were among the “first responders”along with their colleagues at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School ofMedicine, who had been providing health care on the island for many years. Amongthose patients airlifted from Haiti to Jackson, you’ll meet two who inspired our nationand will continue to do great things, in part due to the care they received here.

Thank you for taking the time to read these stories, and thank you for supportingJackson.

Eneida O. Roldan, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.President and CEO, Jackson Health System

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your resource for health and well being

ON THE COVER:Holtz Care Gives Theo’s Heart Extra MileageTheo Koby’s transformation from a boy who couldn’t play any sports tothe 3rd place teen winner in a national flowboarding competition is atribute to the cardiac specialists at Holtz Children’s Hospital.

Saved from ParalysisWhen the renowned neurosurgical team at Jackson Memorial Hospitalsaved his wife from definite paralysis, Henk Milne’s Celtic rock bandthanked them with a benefit concert.

Free to Eat without DreadApproximately 15 million Americans have daily symptoms of heartburnor acid reflux. Jackson South Community Hospital surgeons used aninnovative procedure to banish Madelin Dominguez’s reflux forever.

DEPARTMENTS

Ask the Doctor: Summer Heart Problems for Kids

Close-Up: Jackson Health System’s Response to Haiti’s Earthquake

Innovations: Brother’s Gift Cures Sickle Cell

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L IKE MANY 15-YEAR-OLD BOYS, Theo Koby Hercsky likes to playbasketball, baseball, soccer and football. He also skateboards andrecently ranked third in the country in a flowboarding competition –

a sport often referred to as indoor surfing, where participants ride simulated waves.But being able to participate in such activities is new for Theo. Born with a

complex congenital heart defect, only one chamber of his heart was pumping blood,instead of the two necessary for normal functioning. Because doctors feared high-

intensity activities would put too much strain on his heart, Theo has been unableto play sports for most of his life.

Since birth, Theo has had several heart operations – including threeopen heart surgeries – to help treat and manage these defects andother ongoing problems so he could continue to grow. But his heartgradually weakened, he developed heart failure and two years ago while

playing a rare basketball game, he collapsed.After a long history of exhausting treatments at other facilities, Theo’s family

was referred to Holtz Children’s Hospital’s Heart Failure and Transplant Program atthe University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, where the innovativetreatment provided by the program’s medical director, Paolo Rusconi, M.D., gavethem new hope.

BY KATHLEEN ROHAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCHERLEY BUSCH

Specialized Cardiac CareThe Heart Failure and TransplantProgram is part of The Children’sHeart Center, a joint venture betweenJackson’s Holtz Children’s Hospitaland the University of Miami LeonardM. Miller School of Medicine. TheChildren’s Heart Center is interna-tionally respected for the comprehen-sive care it provides for children withcongenital heart disease, as well asother cardiac conditions, caring forthem from birth well into adulthood.

At Holtz, Dr. Rusconi and hishighly specialized team successfullytreated Theo for heart failure andimplanted a pacemaker to help hisheart pump blood properly to all ofhis organs. The ninth grader atCutler Ridge Christian Academy saidthat after receiving the pacemakerhe noticed a big difference in hisability to be active.

“It made me feel not as tired, andI can do more things,” Theo said. “Idon’t have to worry as much anymore.”

History of Heart TroubleTheo was born with severe congeni-tal heart disease, but doctors did notknow anything was wrong until daysafter his birth when his motherbrought him to a pediatricianbecause he was not eating. He wasrushed to the intensive care unit ata local hospital and immediatelyplaced on life support. They triedto help him gain weight so he wouldbe strong enough to undergo theprocedures necessary to save his life.

“No one thought he was goingto live, he had so many differentcomplications,” said Theo’s mother,Sandy Hercsky.

For years, the family lived withworry. Once Theo seemed to bedoing better, additional complica-tions would arise requiring moresurgeries, which he received at manyhospitals in different states.

His mother remained at his side,determined to get her son the bestmedical treatment possible so hecould one day live a normal life. Sheenvisioned him free of all therestrictions that children with heartdisease often face: No sports. Norough housing. No gym at school.

By October 2007, doctors referredTheo to The Children’s Heart Centerat Holtz for a heart transplant. Butthanks to the innovative heartfailure treatment provided byDr. Rusconi and his team, Theo’scondition improved and he under-went placement of a cardiac pace-maker, which changed his life forthe better. Now, three years later,he is able to live an intense andactive life with his own heart andcan postpone the transplant.

“Once they put in the pacemaker,he has been able to do so many

Above: With Sandy Hercsky’s encouragement, Dr. Paulo Rusconi helps

Theo stay as healthy as possible.

Far right: Now Theo can enjoy skateboarding with his brother, Bubbie.

Holtz Care Allows Theo

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june 2010 � connections � 3

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOLTZ

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL’S CHILDREN’S

HEART CENTER, PLEASE CALL

305-585-6683 OR VISIT

WWW.HOLTZCHILDRENSHOSPITAL.ORG.

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things, like playing baseball andfootball,” Sandy said.

What Lies AheadThere is no medication or surgerythat can permanently correct Theo’sheart defect. Dr. Rusconi says he willeventually need a heart transplant,but they are trying to hold off for aslong as possible.

“Cardiac transplantation is anextreme solution that replaces onedisease with another in the sensethat after receiving a new heart,the patient still will need to takemedications and remain under theconstant care of physicians,” he said.

And, it will only be a temporarysolution.

“Unfortunately, a transplantedheart tends to age much fasterthan a native heart and after anaverage of about 14 years, a newcardiac transplant is needed,” saidDr. Rusconi. “This means that a childrequiring a cardiac transplant willrequire more in the future. A childis better off the longer he or she cankeep the native heart and live lifeas close to normal as possible.”

So that is exactly what Theo isdoing now; living each day to itsfullest and preparing to competein the next national flowboardingcompetition.

“Now Theo feels like a boy,” saidhis mom proudly. “For kids withdefects to be able to do these things,it is just amazing.”

NORMAL KID

“It made me feel not as tiredand I can do more things.

I DON’T HAVE TO WORRYAS MUCH ANYMORE.”

to be a

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surrounding nerves. Continuous electricalmonitoring of her spinal cord, a techniqueinnovated at Jackson Memorial, was usedto warn Dr. Wang of any impending nervedamage.

Jackson, which is home to some of theworld’s most renowned neurosurgeons, isoutfitted with state-of-the-art equipmentneeded for complex spinal cord proceduressuch as intraoperative CT scanners, advancedmicroscopes and magnifying systems.

“There is no other hospital in the southernhalf of Florida that has the capability to dothis type of complex surgery,” Dr. Wang said.

Pippa spent a month recovering atJackson, including two weeks in JacksonRehabilitation Hospital. Since the surgery,she has returned to her active lifestyle, which

includes regular workouts at the gym andwalks around the golf course.

Follow-up tests show the tumor iscompletely gone, and Dr. Wang says

the likelihood of it growing backis very slim.

Pippa Milne feelsvery fortunate that

Jackson wasaround to helpher.

PHILIPPA “PIPPA” MILNE ALWAYS THOUGHT of Jackson Memorial

Hospital as a place where people come when they have been shot,

seriously burned or critically injured in a car accident. The Coral Gables

resident never expected she would need Jackson.

savedBY JENNIFER MOONEY PIEDRA

But after burning her wrist – and notfeeling any pain – Pippa underwent a seriesof tests that discovered a serious problem.She had an ependymoma, a massive tumoron her spinal cord, and was referred toMichael Y. Wang, M.D., FACS, a Universityof Miami/Jackson neurosurgeon whospecializes in the treatment of complexspinal disorders.

Pippa’s case was uncommon becausethe tumor, which was the size of a spear ofasparagus, sat completely within her spinalcord and was running out of room. Hadshe waited to have surgery, the chances forpermanent damage would have dramaticallyincreased.

“It was an extremely dangerous tumor,”said Dr. Wang. “If it continued to grow, itwould have caused paralysis.”

High-Tech, ComplexSurgery Only at JacksonIn September 2008, Pippaunderwent a six-hoursurgery at JacksonMemorial Hospital toremove the tumor.During the highlycomplex operation,doctors used ahypothermic treat-ment to cool her bodyto 33 degrees Celsius(91.4 degrees Fahren-heit) to protect herspinal cord from thegrowing tumor and tominimize damage tothe spinal cord and

�

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEUROSURGICAL OPTIONS

AVAILABLE AT JACKSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, PLEASE VISIT

OUR WEB SITE, WWW.JHSMIAMI.ORG.

Michael Y. Wang, M.D., FACS, and his team

performed the complex surgery to remove Pippa’s

tumor while protecting her spinal cord.


fromparalysis

“It is a phenomenal, world-class institu-tion,” she said. “Everybody – from thepatient care technician to the nurses toDr. Wang – was extremely dedicated andcompassionate.”

A Concert Says “Thanks”As a thank you to Jackson, Pippa’s husband– a lawyer by day, Celtic rock musicianby night – organized a benefit concert toraise money for the Jackson MemorialFoundation, the fundraising arm of thehealth system.

His band, The Three Jacks, performedbefore a large crowd at the Gusman Centerfor the Performing Arts in downtown Miami.They raised about $75,000 for the hospital.

“I was so impressed with everythingabout Jackson that I wanted to give some-thing back,” Henk Milne said. “This is ourway of thanking the institution that did somuch for our family.”

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When Madelin Dominguez

woke up every morning, she

dreaded the traumatically

recurring feeling that her

mouth was on fire. A TV executive at Telemundo,

she had chronic heartburn that was so severe it

sometimes left blisters in her mouth. Sleeping had

become very difficult.

“I would wake up in the middle of the night with alot of pain in my stomach,” said Madelin. “I had tosleep almost sitting up. It was very uncomfortable.”

An estimated 60 million Americans suffer fromheartburn or acid reflux at least once a month and,like Madelin Dominguez, about 15 million Americanshave daily symptoms.

Madelin was tired of taking medicines every dayto relieve her discomfort. She missed being able tolook at a restaurant menu like everyone else. She hadto avoid dishes that were spicy, greasy or containedforbidden ingredients, like tomatoes and garlic.

“I really missed my Lebanese food,” she said.

New Treatment Fixes Cause of RefluxMadelin decided it was time to turn to JacksonSouth Community Hospital for a new, innovativeprocedure called TIF® (Transoral IncisionlessFundoplication). Eddie Gomez, M.D., FACS, alaparoscopic and general surgeon, said theinnovative technique is an important advance forthose suffering from chronic and severe heartburn,because it gets to the root cause of acid reflux.

“We’re recreating the valve of the lower esopha-gus,” said Dr. Gomez. “It prevents the acids fromleaving the stomach and coming back up into theesophagus.”

Moises Jacobs, M.D., FACS, medical director ofthe minimally invasive surgery program at JacksonSouth, said recovery from this new technique iseasier on the body.

“Patients can go home just hours after the

procedure. It is much less invasive, and patientsaren’t dealing with any scars later,” said Dr. Jacobs.

Doctors use a small camera to guide a devicecalled EsophyX® down the throat into the esopha-gus. Surgeons are usually able to re-establish thebarrier between the stomach and esophagus inabout 30 to 45 minutes.

Both Drs. Jacobs and Gomez agree that occa-sional heartburn is normal. However, when acidreflux becomes chronic and severe, it’s time to seea specialist because it can lead to serious medicalproblems, including cancer.

As for Madelin Dominguez, she is thrilled thatshe has eliminated all the drugs she once neededfor her heartburn. Simple things like sleeping andeating have become effortless pleasures again.

“I sleep like a baby now, and I can eat all thosefoods that I had to avoid,” she said. “I feel great.It was a really great decision.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

OR TO SCHEDULE AN

APPOINTMENT, CALL

THE DIGESTIVE CENTER

OF HEALTH AT JACKSON

SOUTH COMMUNITY

HOSPITAL AT 305-256-5030

OR VISIT

WWW.JACKSONSOUTH.ORG.

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“I sleep like a baby now, and I caneat all those foods that I had toavoid. I feel great. It was a reallygreat decision.”

Madelin Dominguez can now

enjoy anything her daughter

Hailey wants to eat for

dinner.

BY SANDRA FIEDLER

Free to Eat without Dread

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BE ALERT TO THESESIGNS OF STROKE

Doctors say the key to combating a stroke is to call 911immediately if you notice any of these warning signs:

� sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, legor on one side of the body

� sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

� sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

� sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance

� sudden severe headache with no known cause


FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE STROKE SERVICES OFFERED THROUGHOUT

JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM, VISIT WWW.JHSMIAMI.ORG.

�

Ejaz Lodhi was watchingtelevision when he sud-

denly lost sensation and strength inthe left side of his body.

“I couldn’t feel my leg or my arm,”said Ejaz, a businessman. “I thoughtit was poor circulation, so I startedmoving around. But that didn’thelp.”

The phone in his Miami homewas broken, so he slowly walked toa neighbor’s home, dragging his legthe entire way. His speech wasslurred and his breathing strained,but he managed to tell his neighborto call 911.

When fire rescue arrived, therewas no mistaking the diagnosis: EjazLodhi was having a stroke.

Stroke is the third leading causeof death and serious, long-term dis-ability in the United States eachyear. Statistics show that someone

suffers a stroke every 40 seconds,and someone dies of a stroke everyfour minutes.

Ejaz was taken to JacksonMemorial Hospital, one of onlytwo hospitals in Miami-Dade Countydesignated as a ComprehensiveStroke Center by the Florida Agencyfor Health Care Administration –and one of only 16 in the state. AtJackson, a specially trained teamof physicians and nurses is readyto treat stroke patients 24 hours aday, seven days a week, using clot-busting medication and advancedcatheter-based treatments.

“Stroke is painless, so peoplereact to it much more subdued,” saidDileep R. Yavagal, M.D., director ofinterventional neurology at JacksonMemorial and the University ofMiami Leonard M. Miller School ofMedicine. “But there are treatmentsthat can reverse stroke in the firstfew hours.”

When Ejaz arrived at JacksonMemorial’s ER, Dr. Yavagal discov-ered that he had a severely blockedmain artery in his brain causing thestroke symptoms. Taking his patientimmediately to a neuroangiography

BYJENNIFERMOONEY

PIEDRA

suite, Dr. Yavagal used a catheter-based procedure called a stent-assisted balloon angioplasty toclear the blockage under localanesthetic.

The results were immediateand dramatic. Ejaz, who by thattime was completely paralyzed onhis left side from the stroke, wasable to move his entire body as soonas the procedure was done. Withoutthe emergency treatment, he likelywould have remained paralyzedand in need of rehabilitation.

“I feel extremely lucky,” he said.“I thought I was going to lose myindependence.”

Dr. Yavagal says the best wayto avoid having a stroke is to stayaway from cigarettes, control bloodpressure, control diabetes, avoidexcessive alcohol drinking andcontrol cholesterol levels bymaintaining a low-fat diet.

That advice has become a way oflife for Ejaz Lodhi. He quit smoking,exercises regularly and eats threehealthy meals a day.

“I have to take care of myself,”he said. “I’m not going to let strokecontrol my life.”

IMMEDIATE STROKE INTERVENTIONMAKES DIFFERENCE INMAN’S RECOVERY

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askthedoctorWhat Parents Need to Know about Heart Conditions in Summer

Many of these illnessescan be prevented orless severe if caughtearly and correctlytreated. That’s whyMary C. Sokoloski,M.D., of theUniversity ofMiami MillerSchool ofMedicine andHoltz Children’sHospital’sChildren’s HeartCenter recommendsthat all parents knowthe signs and symptomsof heart conditions brought on by heat.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMONHEART AILMENTS THAT CHILDRENEXPERIENCE IN EXTREME HEAT?Heat-related illnesses can range fromdehydration to more serious conditionsincluding heat exhaustion. The mostcommon symptoms cardiologists are askedto evaluate that are brought on by heat are:

FAINTING: Usually occurs in adoles-cents as a normal response to perceivedlow blood volume in the right ventricle ofthe heart. It can be caused by dehydrationor another cardiac problem, such as anabnormality in the heart. Any faintingshould be discussed with the child’spediatrician, who may recommend further

evaluation by a pediatriccardiologist. Childrenwith known heartdisease may be moresusceptible to faintingin hot weather,because many are onmedications thatlower their bloodpressure.

PALPITATIONS:The sensation of afast heart rate,palpitations are acommon complaint

and occur morefrequently in the hot

summer months. They can be normal ordue to abnormal rhythms of the heart. It isdifficult to tell if there is a problem withheart rhythm without cardiac testing.

CHEST PAIN: Most chest pain symptomsare caused by muscular pain, asthma andacid reflux. They should be checked out byyour child’s doctor. If the pains occur duringexercise and exertion or are associated withfainting, there may be a heart concern.

WHAT WARNING SIGNS SHOULDPARENTS LOOK FOR?Symptoms can include dizziness, fainting,palpitations, chest pain, headaches,nausea, excessive sweating and evendry skin if the person has sweated to thepoint of dehydration.

WHAT IS HEAT EXHAUSTION ANDHEAT STROKE? HOW CAN THEYBE AVOIDED?Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are moreserious heat-related illnesses brought onby elevated temperature, dehydration andelectrolyte (salt) loss. Heat exhaustionoccurs when the child can no longer coolthemselves due to lack of sweat and thebody temperature begins to rise.

When cooling does not occur andthe temperature reaches 107 degreesFahrenheit, this is a life-threateningsituation called heat stroke. Rapid coolingand emergency medical care are necessaryin this situation. Children with heat strokecan develop shock and organ failure, soavoiding this extreme situation is the bestmedicine.

While early symptoms of heat exhaus-tion and heat stroke are listed above, theycan also include shaking chills, as if thechild was cold, and heat cramps, usuallyaffecting the legs. Parents, teachers, campcounselors and sports coaches shouldmonitor children and their exertion levelsduring hot weather as well as their fluidintake to ensure dehydration does notreach extreme levels.

THE CHILDREN’S HEART CENTER, LOCATED AT HOLTZ CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL IN AFFILIATION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI LEONARD M. MILLER

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED CENTER FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE CARE OF CHILDREN. IT IS THE ONLY CENTER IN SOUTH

FLORIDA WITH CARDIAC SPECIALISTS PROVIDING STATE-OF-THE-ART CARDIAC SERVICES FOR BABIES IN THE WOMB, NEWBORNS, CHILDREN AND

ADULTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CHILDREN’S HEART CENTER, PLEASE CALL 305-585-6683 OR VISIT WWW.HOLTZCHILDRENSHOSPITAL.ORG.

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MARY C. SOKOLOSKI,M.D., is an associateprofessor of ClinicalPediatrics, PediatricCardiology and PediatricElectrophysiology atHoltz Children’sHospital.

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The hot and humid South Florida summer is upon us. During this intense heat,

many people suffer from heat-related illnesses. Children are especially prone to

different heat reactions and sickness, and need to be looked after carefully during the

hottest months of the year.

Meet the Doctor

©


When Gina Jones was six months pregnant,

the St. Petersburg mom knew she should be

celebrating the joy of motherhood for the

second time. Instead she was bedridden, hoping someone would

make her excruciating abdominal pain go away.

BY SANDRA FIEDLER

Take Time to HealDr. Raymond B. Sandler believes cases like Gina’s aretriggered by illnesses such as food poisoning and then madeworse by taking over-the-counter, antidiarrheal medicationsor prescription pain relievers — a mistake he thinks too manypeople make.

“The bowel is injured and then we take medicationsthat slow it down, so we are increasing the time our bodyis exposed to molecules to which it then mounts an immunereaction, setting off a process that may result in full-blown ulcerative colitis," saidDr. Sandler. “Most of the time, the body will heal itself. It’s much better to miss acouple of days of school and work than to create a bigger problem.”

Gina, 40, was suffering from ulcerativecolitis, an immunologic disease in which thebody attacks its own large intestine causingbloody ulcers and severe, chronic diarrhea.Gina was so sick and weak that her son hadto be delivered weeks early. She essentiallymissed the first year of his life.

“It was so unbearably painful,” sheremembered. “I couldbarely eat. I spent ayear eating onlychicken broth andplain yogurt. I wentdown to 95 pounds.”

Gina rarely lefthome and would raceto the restroom asmany as 25 times a day. She became soanemic that she needed blood transfusionsand, eventually, her kidneys began to fail.

“The doctors didn’t know if Iwould live. I thought I was goingto die.”

Gina finally agreed with doctorsthat she should have her colonremoved. But during the visit tothe surgeon’s office, her husbandpersuaded her to get one more opinion,

this time fromRaymond B. Sandler,M.D., who is nowmedical director ofGastroenterologyServices at JacksonNorth Medical Center.

“I didn’t knowwhat to think. He said

he had a theory and, if he was right, in threedays I would be going out to dinner with myhusband,” she said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE AN

APPOINTMENT WITH GASTROENTEROLOGY

SERVICES AT JACKSON NORTH MEDICAL

CENTER, CALL 305-654-3000. JACKSON

NORTH IS LOCATED AT 160 N.W. 170TH

STREET, NORTH MIAMI BEACH.

�

After a year of terrible suffering, Gina can enjoy a normal life with

her family.

Dr. Sandler theorized that Gina washaving serious side effects to the medica-tions that should have been making herbetter. Five years later, she tearfully recallshis reassuring words that day. “He said Iwas going to have a normal life. I was goingto enjoy my kids, and he wouldn’t settle foranything else.”

Sure enough, Dr. Sandler was right. Ginawas enjoying a three-course meal at a greatrestaurant within days.

He continues to manage Gina’s colitiswith medicines for her immune system anda diet with increased fiber. “She’s living acompletely normal life. That’s what it’s allabout,” said Dr. Sandler. “As a physician,that’s very rewarding.”

Gina Jones is very grateful she foundthe right doctor. “He’s a doctor who cares,”she said. “I can be a mom, a real person.I have my life back.”

“He’s a doctor who cares.

I can be a mom,

a real person.

I have my life back.”

“Unbearably Painful” Colitis Causes Mom toMiss Son’s First Year of Life

©


close-upThe Story of a Tragedy and

How People CameTogether to Help

A REDEEMING FACTOR OF A DISASTER – such asthe 7.0 earthquake that devastated Haiti in Januaryof this year – is the outpouring of human kindnessand support that manifests in response.

Here in Jackson Health System, employeesmobilized within hours of the quake. Miami has thelargest community of Haitians in the United States,and many work in our hospitals and clinics. Internalcounseling personnel – chaplains, social workers andthe JHS Employee Work/Life Services-EAP – reachedout to our Haitian coworkers to help in any way.Collection sites were established for necessities fromfirst aid kits to shoes to be sent to the island. Organi-zations that would funnel monetary donations safelyto Haiti were promoted to our 12,000 employees.

Jackson volunteers joined in the relief efforts aswell. Over the years, many Jackson and Universityof Miami physicians, nurses and healthcare profes-sionals have volunteered to expand medical care in

“My experience inthat terrible time wasone of compassion,helpfulness and ashared sense of

humanity. We all feltthat the only way to getthrough this period offear and chaos was bycoming together and

each person helping inthe way that he could.”

— CHRISTA BRELSFORD,HAITI EARTHQUAKE

SURVIVOR

the Caribbean island through Project Medisharefor Haiti, Inc., which was established in 1994 byDrs. Barth Green and Arthur Fournier of theUM Leonard M. MillerSchool of Medicine. Thatnetwork was activatedimmediately after theearthquake to create afield hospital becausethe existing Haitianhospital had crumbled.

When patients wereairlifted out of Haiti,those most seriouslywounded came toJackson’s Ryder Trauma Center and the UM/JMBurn Center. Others were treated at Holtz Children’sHospital, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Jackson NorthMedical Center and Jackson South CommunityHospital, for a total of more than 200 patients withan array of injuries. At Ryder, a “command center”was established where trauma surgeons could

communicate directly withthe field hospital andhelp with diagnoses andtreatment suggestions.

The world’s eyes werefocused on the tragedy inHaiti, and hearts wereuplifted by the stories ofthe survivors. Media fromJapan, London and through-out the United States cameto Jackson to hear these

stories, some of which are shared inthese pages.

Clockwise from top left: Alonzo Mourning was

especially helpful hanging IV bags on the tent's

ceiling poles, said Karen Chamuel, A.R.N.P.;

pediatric nurse practitioner Ann-Lynn Denker,

A.R.N.P., and friend; the field hospital in Haiti

“I felt guilty forleaving, feeling I

hadn’t done enough.You’re not supposedto get emotionally

involved, but you do.”

— ANTHONY MENENDEZ, R.N.,RYDER TRAUMA INTENSIVE

CARE UNIT NURSE

BYPAT

MORRISSEY/HAVLIN©


Violinist Romel Joseph: A Story of SurvivalBY JENNIFER MOONEY PIEDRA

When Romel Joseph was pulledfrom underneath a mountain of

concrete 18 hours after the devastatingearthquake in Haiti, he questioned whetherhe would live for much longer.

Both feet were broken, his left hand hadswollen to twice its normal size, metal nailswere embedded into his back, and parts ofhis body were starting to go numb. AnAmerican citizen who was born in the ruralHaitian town of Gros-Morne, Romel wastaken to the U.S. Embassy, where themilitary arranged for him to fly to Miamifor emergency medical treatment.

“Take Me to Jackson”When asked which hospital he wanted to betaken to, Romel had one request: “I toldthem to take me to Jackson MemorialHospital because it is the best. I knew thatif I didn’t get there quickly, I wouldn’tsurvive.”

Romel Joseph, 50, spent two monthsrecovering at Jackson, where he underwentmore than a dozen sur-geries on his hand andfeet. He also had dailysessions in the hyper-baric chamber, a formof therapy thatincreases the amountof oxygen in the bloodand helps wounds healfaster.

But what he wantedmore than anythingwas for his hand to heal, so he could playhis beloved violin again. Born legally blind,Romel is a professional violinist who trainedat the Julliard School in New York City.Though he could have pursued a career per-forming in symphony orchestras, he insteadchose to build The New Victorian School inPort-au-Prince, so that Haitian childrencould also develop a passion for music.

Music Saved Him from the PainRomel Joseph and his wife, Myslie, who wasseven months pregnant, were at the schoolwhen the January 12th earthquake shookthe ground. Romel was thrown from thethird floor of the school and buried. As helay pinned underneath concrete blocks, he

passed time by praying,visualizing a concert hall inhis head and replayingconcertos he’d performedin the past.

“It removed me from thespace I was in and took mesomewhere else,” he said.“Because of the music,I didn’t feel any pain.”

Although Romel wasrescued, his wife did not

survive. Because of the injuries to his hand,he worried that he had also lost his ability tomake music. But after his surgeries and twoweeks of therapy in Jackson RehabilitationHospital, he began moving his fingers andpracticing chords and songs on the violin.

“His chances of playing again are verygood,” said Patrick W. Owens, M.D., anorthopaedic surgeon at the University of

Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Centerwho operated on Romel’s hand. “X-raysshow his bones are healing straight.”

An Inspiration to ManyRomel Joseph’s inspiring story of survivaltouched many, including CBS Evening Newsanchor Katie Couric and music legend StevieWonder, who donated two of his personalkeyboards to the earthquake survivor.Student violinists from South Miami MiddleSchool visited Jackson to perform for Romel,as did 8-year-old violin prodigy BriannaKahane. The Miami Symphony Orchestra –where his daughter Victoria plays the viola –also performed a benefit concert.

Romel said he is extremely grateful to thephysicians, therapists and nurses who caredfor him during his stay at Jackson. He feelsextremely blessed – and is determined torebuild his school in Haiti.

“Now, more than ever, the children thereneed an education,” he said. “My goal is toopen the school again with a focus onmusic, art and culture. All children will bewelcome, including those who are orphansand disabled.”

Above: CBS Evening News anchor Katie

Couric visited Romel Joseph and his

daughter Victoria while he was recovering

at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Left: As soon as he could go back to Haiti,

Romel started to rebuild his school.

The Story of a Tragedy andHow People Came

Together to Help

“Now, more than ever, thechildren there need an

education, My goal is to openthe school again with a focuson music, art and culture.

All children will be welcome,including those who areorphans and disabled.”©

CHRISTA BRELSFORD, AN ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY graduate student volunteer-ing with a community literacy program in Haiti, was caught in her building during theearthquake. Through a series of selfless acts by coworkers and complete strangers, shewas dug out of the rubble, taken on a motorcycle to a Sri Lankan U.N. peacekeepingmission for first aid and was one of the first Americans airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center.

Her injuries were so severe that traumasurgeons were forced to amputate her lower rightleg. A situation that would have daunted mosteverybody else was put in perspective by theAlaskan-born athlete.

“I feel every day thankful to be alive,” she said.“I expect it to be a challenge, but I’m extremelyconfident that I will have no limitations.”

Following four surgeries in 20 days at JacksonMemorial Hospital, Christa returned to Arizona to

catch up in school and continue rehabilitation. After receiving her prosthetic leg, sheimmediately participated in an ice-climbing event sponsored by an amputee group.

In gratitude for her life, Christa has established a fund called Christa's Angels tohelp rebuild the community learning center in Darbonne, Haiti, as well as help supportHaitian friends and colleagues who saved her and her brother during the earthquake.

“Getting caught in a house was just timing,” she said. “However, the good luck that Ihad was the result of deliberate human choices to be kind and compassionate.”

DNA test verified she was their missingchild. International media carried theheart-warming story, along with somequotes from Karen.

“This child is a metaphor for Haiti,”said Arthur M. Fournier, M.D., one of thefounders of the University of Miami’sProject Medishare. “She was just aboutdead. Everybody counted her out, and sheis back – and Haiti will come back.”

Earthquake ChangesVolunteers’ LivesMany medical personnel from Jackson andthe University of Miami used personalvacation time to volunteer in Haiti, andmany more helped the Haitian victims whowere brought to the medical center.

“When our first physical therapistsarrived (in Haiti), they wasted no time inhelping patients, many of whom had crushinjuries and burns,” said Lynn Neifeld,M.H.M., P.T., chief physical therapist atJackson Rehabilitation Hospital. “Theycreated leg braces out of shoe laces andrope. Foam cut from swimming noodlespositioned broken hands in braces.”

“When Jackson began receiving patientsfrom the earthquake, our social workersplayed an integral part in helping them,”said Shirley Jackson, L.C.S.W., M.H.M.,CCM, social work supervisor at JacksonMemorial Hospital. “They required moreattention and assistance than usual,because many of them came with no familyand no idea what would happen to themonce they were discharged.”

“The four days I spent in Haiti were aneye-opening and humbling experience,”said Aman D. Sabharwal, M.D., CPHM, chiefutilization officer and corporate medicaldirector, JHS Revenue Cycle Management.“I truly hope that no one ever again has toexperience what the Haitians endured.”


One Volunteer’s Story

Human Kindness Saved Christa’s Life

The earthquake rocked Haiti onTuesday, January 12, 2010. On

Friday, Karen Chamuel, A.R.N.P., was on adonated, 12-passenger airplane bound forPort-au-Prince. Also aboardwere two trauma surgeons,two orthopaedic surgeonsand two other nurses, allvolunteers from the Uni-versity of Miami/JacksonMemorial Medical Center.

“When I heard aboutthe earthquake, I knew Ihad to help,” Karen remem-bered. So she made someinquiries and went hometo pack. The perfect volun-teer for a disaster, Karen isa nurse practitioner andformer trauma nurse at Ryder TraumaCenter, who also has experience in neuro-surgery and emergency medicine.

“When we arrived, we threw our bags ina pile and went to work,” she said. “TheHaitian people are very resilient. We wereworking on a little boy whose broken bone

stuck out of his leg. Hewas smiling.”

Expecting to spend atleast the weekend in thefield hospital, Karen vol-unteered to accompany ababy back to Jackson.Found under the ruins ofher home after beingburied for 85 hours, theinfant needed immediatecare. CNN senior medicalcorrespondent ElizabethCohen followed Karen tothe airplane, all the while

reporting her story, “Baby Rescued Alive.”On April 6th, “Baby Jenny” was reunited

with her parents, who flew to Miami after a

“It was a catastrophe of unimaginable proportion, but undoubtedlythe most rewarding thing I have done as a physician and surgeon.I have newfound admiration and respect for the Haitian people.”

— CARL I. SCHULMAN, M.D., MSPH, FACH,UM/JM BURN CENTER SURGEON

Karen Chamuel, A.R.N.P., and “Baby

Jenny”

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transplant program at Holtz and assistant professorof clinical pediatrics at the University of Miami MillerSchool of Medicine, in early 2007. Dr. Andreanskydetermined that Travis’ younger brother, Trevis, wasa perfect match.

Last August, Dr. Andreansky performed asuccessful transplantation, which replaced Travis’unhealthy cells with healthy stem cells from hisbrother’s bone marrow. As a result of the transplant,

Travis is free of sickle celldisease and no longerexperiencing any pain.

“Clinically, he is doingvery well and is symptomfree,” Dr. Andreanskysaid.

More than 70,000people in the UnitedStates have sickle celldisease, according to theSickle Cell Disease Associ-ation of America. About1,000 babies are bornwith the disease in thecountry each year.

Travis, who is now 19,is being home-schooledand undergoes regularphysical therapy sessions

to regain his strength. As for Trevis, a junior at PalmBeach Gardens High School, he is focused onmaintaining his 3.4 grade point average, in hopesof earning a football scholarship to the University ofMiami. Trevis, who is willing to be a bone marrowdonor again, hopes he inspires others to do the same.

“My sons were already close, but this experiencehas brought them even closer,” their mother said.“This is truly a miracle.”

innovationsBrother’s Generous Gift Cures Sickle Cell

BY JENNIFER MOONEY PIEDRA

TRAVIS WASHINGTON WAS DIAGNOSEDwith sickle cell disease as a newborn and spent

much of his childhood in and out of hospitals. Hesuffered excruciating pain from the disease, an inher-ited blood disorder that affects the red blood cells.

The “pain crises” Travis experienced wereaccompanied by regular headaches and stomachaches. By age 15, he had suffered two strokes – oneof which left him with permanent brain damage and

partial paralysis. He underwent intense rehabilitationto once again learn how to walk, speak, sit up, usethe bathroom and eat.

Doctors in Palm Beach County, where Travislives and was being treated, referred him to HoltzChildren’s Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center to determineif he was a candidate for a bone marrow transplant.UM/Jackson, which has among the largest sickle celltreatment and research programs in the UnitedStates, is one of only 11 centers funded as a Basic andTranslational Research Program in Sickle Cell Diseaseby the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

“Getting a bone marrow transplant was really ouronly hope left,” said Travis’ mother, Shirley Ambrister.

Travis began seeing Martin Andreansky, M.D.,Ph.D., director of the pediatric bone marrow

“My sons were

already close,

but this

experience has

brought them

even closer.

This is truly

a miracle.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BONE MARROW

TRANSPLANTATION AT HOLTZ CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL,

VISIT WWW.HOLTZCHILDRENSHOSPITAL.ORG

OR CALL 305-585-5437.

�

Travis Washington (right) is

free of sickle cell disease –

and no longer experiencing

any pain – thanks to his

brother Trevis (left).


Phot

oby

Shir

ley

Am

bris

ter©

New Life-Saving DeviceInvented by FetalSurgery Pioneer atUM/Jackson

during a routine ultrasound,doctors determined that

Carla Datorre-Pearson’s unbornson suffered from a lowerurinary tract obstruction(LUTO). The condition, whichaffects 1 in 3,000 babies inutero, prevents a fetus fromeliminating urine from its bodywhile developing in the womb.

Carla was referred to RubénA. Quintero, M.D., directorof the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the FetalTherapy Center at theUniversity of Miami/JacksonMemorial Medical Center.

Dr. Quintero and his teamrecently invented a thimble-sized shunt that uses a doubledisc mechanism to treat LUTO.Unlike shunts in the past,Dr. Quintero’s inventioncannot become dislodged,therefore eliminating the needto repeat the procedure.

“In the past 30 years, thisis a major breakthrough inthe field,”Dr. Quinterosaid. “Althoughwe have beenusing shuntsto treat thiscondition sincethe 1980s, thehigh failurerate of thepreviousshunts didnot solve theproblem.”

Dr. Quintero, a worldwideleader in fetal therapy,performed the procedureon Carla in September at

Jackson’s Women’s HospitalCenter. Her son, AndrePearson, was born in January.

“If it wasn’t for this surgery,my son would not have survived,”Carla said.

Without treatment, 90% ofthe babies affected by LUTOdie. Those who survive oftenrequire critical care includingtreatment for renal failureand lack of lung development.The condition leads to approxi-mately 700 fetal deaths peryear nationwide.

For more information onDr. Quintero’s services or toschedule an appointment,please call 305-585-6636.

Technique to TreatBurn Patients Is Firstin the World

two things stop an operationon a burned patient: blood

loss and hypothermia,” saidCarl I. Schulman, M.D., MSPH,FACS, a surgeon in the UM/JMBurn Center, “and we’ve almosteliminated the second.”

Hypothermia is familiar tomost people as what happens

when a personis in very coldwater too longand their bodyloses too muchheat. In theoperatingroom, hypo-thermia isassociated withincreasedwound infec-tion, additional

bleeding and need for transfu-sions, adverse cardiac eventsand a change in the way drugswork. External temperaturemanagement methods, such as

warming blankets, are usuallyeffective.

However, when a personis burned, skin is destroyedand external temperaturemanagement is limited.

Dr. Schulman is the firstphysician in the world to usean internal warming methodon burn patients and the firstto publish this application. It’scalled Thermogard XP™ andbasically circulates warm waterthrough a series of balloonsthreaded into the patient’sveins through a catheter.

“Heat loss in patients withlarge burn injuries is commonand preventing it is especiallychallenging. This intravascularwarming is a state-of-the-arttechnology,” said Dr. Schulman.“Here at Jackson, we’ve usedthis method to warm traumapatients – and our neuro-surgeons have used it to coolpatients – and we’ve also hadthe world’s first experiencewith burn patients. We areable to maintain a stabletemperature while keepingour patients safe.”


CURRENTLY, ONE IN THREE adults in the United States isoverweight. Obesity can not only diminish a person’s qualityof life, but can also put them at further risk for developingadditional health problems, including high blood pressure,heart disease, diabetes, stroke and sleep apnea. While exerciseand proper nutrition help many to achieveweight loss, it is often ineffective forthose who are morbidly obese.

At Jackson South CommunityHospital’s Gastric Sleeve Centerfor Weight Loss, experiencedsurgeons offer the latest surgicaltechniques in the field ofweight-loss surgery. One ofthese procedures is VerticalGastric Sleeve surgery, whichis quickly becoming the mostcommonly performed andpreferred weight-loss procedure.

The vertical sleeve helps patientsachieve long-term weight loss by decreasing thestomach volume by 85%, leaving it to contain about 1 to2 ounces. The part of the stomach that produces hungerhormones is also eliminated. But unlike gastric bypass, whichalso limits the stomach’s size, this procedure does not interferewith or change the digestive tract, therefore eliminating manyof the unpleasant side effects patients can experience withbypass surgery.

Jackson South offers support services to make the weight-lossjourney a success, including free seminars, counseling, supportgroups, nutritional guidance and rehabilitation services. Forinformation, please call 305-271-0774. Ill

ustr

atio

nby

Joyc

eH

esse

lber

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Carla Datorre-Pearson credits

Dr. Rubén A. Quintero for saving

her son's life.

“

The Latest Options for Weight-Loss Surgery

©

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