Fascinating Stuff: The History of EA/TEF Treatment
Hey everybody, welcome to this week’s EA/TEF Awareness Month Tuesday feature! As you many recall, in the January 4th post, you learned 10 reasons to mark EA/TEF Awareness Month. Last Tuesday, you learned how being the parent of a child with EA/TEF inspired me to do what I do. You were invited to leave a comment at the end of that post to be entered into a drawing for a free book. (If you haven’t done that yet, do it now before the drawing closes at midnight on January 29, 2012.)
Guest Blogger Christine Lester to the Rescue
For this week’s post, I’d hoped one of DifferentDream.com’s EA/TEF guest blogger moms, Lori McGahan or Christine Lester would guest post. But their EA/TEF Awareness Month has been consumed with EA/TEF complications in their kids. So keep them in your prayers as they advocate for effective treatments.
Even though Christine is preoccupied with Billy’s concerns, she found time to send a link she recently found. It gives the most complete summary of modern medical history of EA/TEF treatment either of us have found. After poking around at the site and trying to contact it’s creators, I’ve concluded that they are no longer actively tending it. Still, it is worth reading. My gratitude for several generations of surgeons and for parents who consented to experimental surgeries and autopsies on their EA/TEF babies (long before the condition was named and abbreviated) grew with each paragraph read. Our children are alive because of these medical pioneers and grieving, gracious parents.
A Personal Connection to Dr. Keith Ashcraft
In the introduction to the history, two surgeons are given credit for compiling much of the background information: Dr. Nate Myers and Dr. Keith Ashcraft. My jaw dropped when Dr. Ashcraft’s name popped up. In 1997, he removed two-thirds of our son’s lower esophagus because it was believed to be pre-cancerous. His skill, compassion, and manner with our then 15 year-old-son were impressive. So impressive that in 2007, I asked Dr. Ashcraft for an interview while researching what became my first book, A Different Dream for My Child: Meditations for Parents of Critically and Chronically Ill Children. Many of his insights are included in the book. He’s also the fellow in the picture above.
The History of EA/TEF Medical Treatment
Without further ado, here’s the link to the page titled Esophageal Atresia and Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula…the Journey. Once you’re done reading that, you might want to check out this link about Dr. Keith Ashcraft. He retired from medicine in the early 2000s. He now spends his time painting and volunteering in Kansas City area elementary schools.
Would You Like to Say Thank You?
Our family is so grateful to the surgeons who gave our son a second chance to live: Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Pinch at the University of Nebraska Hospital in Omaha, Dr. James Hopkins at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, and of course, Dr. Keith Ashcraft at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.
Is there a surgeon, GI doctor, nurse, therapist, or other health care professional you would like to thank? If so, leave a comment in the box below. Think of it as a chance to recognize those who gave your child the gift of life and to add your personal twist to the history of EA/TEF medical treatment. I can’t wait to hear about the people who helped your family.
Thanks again, docs,
Jolene
Dr. Craig Albanese at Stanford did the primary repair on our son thoracoscopically in Jan 2010. It was an amazing success!!
Hooray for Dr. Albanese!
Jolene
Dr. Mark Puder, Dr. Russell Jennings and Dr. Victor Fox at Children’s Hospital Boston. Dr. John Foker of Minneapolis, MN.
Dr. Puder was Kestrel’s (EA/TEF, Type C, short gap) repair surgeon, and is an extremely skilled, compassionate, AMAZING doctor. Dr. Victor Fox is her GI specialist, and has done every surgical procedure she has had since her connection.
Dr. Russell Jennings is our resident EA/TEF guru at CHB. He has not treated my daughter, but I have seen him save the lives of countless EA/TEF children when other doctors thought all hope was lost. He has successfully reconnected children who no one thought would ever be able to eat by mouth. In short … he’s amazing. His skills are only matched by the size of his heart. You couldn’t ask for a better doctor or a more compassionate, caring person to work on your child.
Finally, Dr. John Foker, without whom many of out long-gap kids would never have been successfully reconnected. His affiliation with Children’s Hospital Boston has made it possible for the Esophageal Atresia Treatment Center to exist, and for our doctors to become some of the leading experts worldwide in EA/TEF. There are no words to measure what a deep debt of gratitude we all owe him.
Heather,
Thank you for recognizing these often unsung heroes. As parents of kids whose lives were saved because of them, public thanks seems like too little too late. But my guess is these docs find our thank yous the most gratifying part of their work.
Jolene
Dr. Karen Cartwright, Dr. Diana Farmer, Dr. Shinjiro Hirose
Thank you to Dr. Jenning’s for all he did for our son Brandon. Even putting up with and listening to my mama bear trantrums. He always listened and always said “Mom knows better than anyone and their instincts are always right.” And a VERY special thanks to Nurse Renee who will always be a part of our lives in so many ways. When our son stopped breating, she brought him back to us. We will forever have a speical bond with Renee.
Kuddos to three more heros!
Jolene
Lori,
Thanks for sharing Dr. Jennings and Nurse Renee with us. They deserve a shout out.
Jolene