<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y3lbgjKGLyk" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h5 style="text-align: right"> * For closed captioning, click the <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/edd9ba121c174d97705f2b40e511e38b.png" style="width: 20px;"> button in the bottom-right of the video. * </h5> Hear Hilton Foore, a Cochlear Implant patient, talk about his journey from how he found out he had hearing loss to when he discovered and chose to get cochlear implants!
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jqTBdmCIXSo" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h5 style="text-align: right"> * For closed captioning, click the <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/edd9ba121c174d97705f2b40e511e38b.png" style="width: 20px;"> button in the bottom-right of the video. * </h5> Check out this story of Quinn who received Cochlear Implants. Her parents share her story and explain the process they went through together.
When you think of a DJ, you don’t typically think of them having to strain their voice too much. After all, doesn’t the music usually do the talking? Not when you’re Justin Bieber’s official tour DJ. Baltimore native Taylor James started his interest in DJing at the tender age of 12. What started as a hobby turned into a profession and helped pay the bills through college. And that certainly paid off when, upon graduation, Mr. James was offered a full-time position on pop sensation Justin Bieber’s world tour. Suddenly, Mr. James was using his voice like never before. Interviews with the Today Show, pumping up sold out crowds of screaming fans and emceeing events like Justin Bieber’s birthday bash. In December 2011, all this excitement caught up with Mr. James’ voice, bringing him to the Johns Hopkins Voice Center at GBMC. “I thought I was just getting a really bad cold at first,” says Mr. James. “Then all of the sudden, my voice was completely gone. It came back just enough for me to go on the Today Show, but after that, I knew I had to go to GBMC.” Mr. James saw Lee Akst, MD, Director of the Johns Hopkins Voice Center at GBMC and Barbara Messing, MA, CCC-SLP, BRS-S, who found the cause of his problem was vocal fold hemorrhagic polyps. “The evaluation procedure was quick, easy and painless,” says Mr. James. “It was also really convenient for it to be done right in the office.”In order for his voice to perform at full capacity, vocal surgery was recommended and performed with excellent vocal results. Now, Mr. James is undergoing therapy to not only make his voice stronger, but to learn how to use it properly. “At his therapy sessions, we focus on vocal exercises that help to mobilize the vocal folds and promote healing and vocal techniques to improve the balance between breath support and voice production while reducing excessive laryngeal muscle tension,” says Barbara Messing, MA, CCC-SLP, BRS-S, Administrative-Clinical Director of the Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Center and the Johns Hopkins Voice Center at GBMC. “He now knows the best ways to perform warm up and cool down to minimize damage to his vocal folds while performing and rest his voice as needed.” The treatment that Mr. James received from the Johns Hopkins Voice Center at GBMC put him on the road to recovery and back on the road with Justin Bieber.
<h4> The story of Katie Corun, as told by her mother, Kathy. </h4> I would like to first thank GBMC for the opportunity to tell my family's story to such a dedicated, professional and caring institution. GBMC is among the very best hospitals, in my opinion. <br> <br> In the fall of 2011, my daughter lost part of her vision in her right eye during a neurology lecture. She had been married only nine months and was fulfilling her dream of becoming a nurse. She was seen by a neuro-ophthalmologist at a Baltimore hospital, evaluated and sent for a brain MRI. In short, she endured a nine-hour brain surgery, only to get a biopsy. She was diagnosed with an optic pathway glioma, a rather rare and fatal brain tumor that was malignant and inoperable. <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/c6344a607a5199a8e81963cbad5c9c6b.jpg"> <figcaption> Katie and her husband, Ron </figcaption> </figure> <br> <br> Soon after, she was evaluated and treated by a group of specialists at the brain tumor center at Duke University in North Carolina. Due to the distance between her home in Harford County, Maryland and Duke, she had to find a local oncologist that would agree to treat and follow her. We were very fortunate to have GBMC agree to take her as a patient. <br> <br> Dr. Gary Cohen began a care and treatment program in late fall of 2011, which continues to this day. I can't think of a more professional, brilliant, courteous and kind man than Dr. Cohen. He has taken such good care of my daughter, and has been a huge champion in her welfare as she fights to live the most normal life possible. My son-in-law is at every appointment with my daughter and it is obvious that Dr. Cohen doesn't just treat my daughter, he is very concerned and attentive to the well-being of my son-in-law as well. <br> <br> I never thought that physicians were great at treating and caring for the entire family unit, but it's apparent that Dr. Cohen is not the average physician, by any measure. He is calm, very kind, dedicated, and continually goes beyond the scope of a physician. He has always been prompt and available after his normal business hours, which has been very reassuring to both my daughter and her husband. <br> <br> As for the Emergency Department staff, that too, has been more than amazing. My daughter has had the best care and treatment from the understanding physicians, nurses, radiology team and supporting staff members. It seems they remember her as she has unfortunately landed in the ED on several occasions over the past three years. <br> <br> She has been on the oncology floor as an inpatient on several occasions. The care and treatment she received there was amazing. They are true professionals and have been so kind and caring. Their attitude and ethic has made her long stays endurable. <br> <br> On a couple of occasions, my daughter has had care and treatment by a few other physicians at GBMC. They are as follows: Dr. Michael Sellman, Division Chief of Neurology; Dr. Niraj Jani, Chief, Digestive Disease Division and Dr. Marc Dubin, Otolaryngology Specialist. Again, these physicians are tremendously kind, caring and experts in their respective fields. Collectively, they have given my daughter the best care and shown the most concern of any physician we have dealt with on a local level. <div class="split"> <figure class="image-left"> <img class="" src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/847cfcad633d79b5ac1cee3612631104.jpg" alt="Katie with Dr. Michael Sellman"> <figcaption> Katie with Dr. Michael Sellman </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/fcac54c0e4c87da82a62f5a88722e97d.jpg" alt="Katie at the infusion center"> <figcaption> Katie, with her always positive attitude in the Infusion Center. </figcaption> </figure> </div> <br> <br> During my daughter's course of treatment she received IV chemotherapy for two years. Every other Friday she would visit the GBMC Infusion Center and stay for hours. An amazing group of kind nurses and support staff work there. Calling my daughter by her first name and taking away the normal fears that any cancer patient would experience was first class all the way. <br> <br> I'm not too sure where my family would be without the care and treatment my daughter has received from GBMC. We are happy to report that my daughter, Katie, beat all odds! She is a full-time nurse and working on a medical surgical floor in a Harford county hospital. In just a couple of days, Katie will celebrate being brain tumor-free for two years. Her past MRI scans show no tumor re-growth and she has regained her vision back. <br> <br> Thank you to all of the staff and support teams at GBMC for all of your care and help with what has been the most difficult time of Katie's life. We continue to seek out treatment at GBMC and return for continued monitoring of Katie's brain in hopes that she remains a healthy, happy and productive member of society. <br> <br> Lastly, I can't think of anywhere in the Maryland area that would provide such care and genuine concern to a fragile, complex and frightened young lady diagnosed with a brain tumor. GBMC stands high on my list as the very best hospital. My daughter is alive, working full-time and is brain tumor-free as of March 8, 2013. I have so much to be thankful for...thank you GBMC!!! <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
GBMC’s Cleft Lip and Palate Team ensures a normal life for young boy For first-time mother-to-be Vipra Patel, the term “cleft lip and palate” was just something she’d heard about happening to others. But, during an ultrasound midway through her pregnancy, she was shocked to learn that her growing baby would be born with the condition. This is her story, in her own words. In May 2011, like any new parents-to-be, my husband, Rakesh, and I were excited and ready to meet our new bundle of joy. It didn’t cross our minds that something might be wrong. But during an ultrasound, it was clear that our first son, Kian, would be born with a cleft upper lip and palate. Before Kian was born, Rakesh and I met with GBMC’s Cleft Lip and Palate Team, including surgeons, speech language pathologists, a geneticist and genetic counselor, dietitians and a pediatrician, to find out what this meant for our son and what we’d need to do to prepare ourselves to care for him. We learned that cleft lip and palate, which is caused by abnormal facial development during the early months of pregnancy, is the most common birth defect in the U.S. Babies with the condition are born with a gap in the roof of the mouth and opening in the lip. In addition to affecting a child’s facial appearance, it also impacts his or her ability to eat and develop speech skills. Rakesh and I really appreciated having such a comprehensive team of experts readily available. We were already nervous enough about becoming parents for the first time and thinking about the possible difficulties our son might go through was overwhelming at times. Amy Kimball, ScM, was especially helpful throughout my pregnancy, patiently answering our many questions and reassuring us that we would quickly learn to care for our baby’s special needs. Immediately after Kian was delivered, a consultant from the team arrived to teach us the best feeding methods and different strategies for handling some of the challenges associated with babies who have palate issues. Pediatric geneticist Antonie Kline, MD, FAAP, even assessed Kian and performed a chromosome study to determine if he would possibly have any other developmental problems later in life (fortunately, the study indicated that he is normal). Kian and his mom at a recent checkup with pediatrician Julie Yeh, MD, a member of GBMC’s Cleft Lip and Palate Team. For the best outcomes, Kian’s doctors said that he would need surgery within his first few months of life. Although it was scary, the team assured us that everything would be OK. They even arranged for us to meet a little girl who had her cleft palate repaired at GBMC to help ease our minds. Kian had his first successful cosmetic surgery to correct his cleft lip when he was just three months old. His surgeons, Randolph Capone, MD, FACS, and Patrick Byrne, MD, FACS, did such a great job that you can hardly even tell! We’re now preparing for his second surgery, which will correct his cleft palate. This is the most important procedure of all, as it will dramatically improve his feeding ability as well as his speech development. Rakesh and I are so grateful for the entire team! We know we are not alone in this journey, and they will be looking out for us from start to finish. We also take great comfort in knowing that Kian will have as normal a life as any other child thanks to the exceptional care he received at GBMC. For more information about GBMC’s Cleft Lip and Palate Team, visit www.gbmc.org/cleft or call 443-849-GBMC (4262). Expert Help at GBMC GBMC’s Cleft Lip and Palate Team provides interdisciplinary medical expertise to families of children with birth defects involving the head and neck, including cleft lip/cleft palate, Pierre-Robin sequence, microtia, microphthalmia, facial asymmetry and other, rarer malformations. Providing a spectrum of care from initial diagnosis and treatment (surgery and/or therapy) to maintenance of body systems, tending to psychosocial and future reproductive needs, the team can begin working with families as early as pregnancy, when some birth defects may be diagnosed. The relationship continues on from the birth of the baby to adolescence and early adulthood. With GBMC’s group of craniofacial experts, patients and their families receive a team approach to comprehensive, coordinated care. Additionally, the team’s geneticists can provide both the immediate family and the extended family with information about the causes of and recurrence risks for the patient's birth defect.
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-ag4i1QtvAA" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> <em>GBMC's medical team and services have made a difference in their lives. This is the story of Grayson Hundt, a former Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patient who continues to beat the odds regardless of what comes his way. His story is told by his father, Michael Hundt.</em> <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/f3fa50d72cfe8017472248b674cbd4b6.jpg" alt="Grayson Hundt, soon after birth"> <figcaption> Grayson Hundt, soon after birth </figcaption> </figure> Grayson's story is a long one. On March 28, 2014, my wife, Heather, entered GBMC in full labor at 23 weeks and 1 day into her pregnancy. I was in Boston at the time. She was told the baby would have less than a 35 percent chance of survival. He was born weighing 1 pound, 15 ounces and was sent to the NICU — where he was placed on a ventilator and into an incubator — immediately after birth. <br> <br> While in the NICU, Grayson was diagnosed with a stage 3 and 4 bleed on the right and left side of the brain, respectively. His condition was so severe that on several nights we were told there was nothing more the GBMC staff could do, and that Grayson might not make it to the morning. Somehow, he always did. He was at GBMC from March 28 to August 11, and when he left the NICU, he had two chest tubes, a ventilator for two months, three surgeries, countless scans, X-rays, blood work, approximately 22 blood transfusions and other tests. <br> <br> The first night in the NICU, Corin was Grayson's nurse. His entire body looked like one big bruise and his eyes were still closed. He continued to try to breathe on his own despite the ventilator. Corin kept saying he was a fighter, "just like 'Rocky,'" and the nickname stuck. <figure class="image-left-small"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/f94b4a75bece37aafc7884ad42c6e77d.jpg" alt="Grayson's mom gets to hold him for the first time"> <figcaption> Grayson's mom gets to hold him for the first time </figcaption> </figure> <br> <br> Every single member of the GBMC family that we encountered during Grayson's stay was special. The nurses and NICU staff became family to us - they cried when we cried, laughed when we laughed and were there when we needed a hug. The doctors were the most caring that I have ever encountered - Dr. Sabah Helou and Dr. Kendall Jenkins included, and Dr. Maria Pane in particular. My wife and I truly believe that Grayson is with us today because of Dr. Pane. There were times when she sat with us and prayed over Grayson. One night, after we had been told that Grayson may not make it until morning, we decided to have him baptized by his grandfather. Dr. Pane joined us. <br> <br> On August 11, 2014, Grayson was transferred to Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital. He was treated for electrolyte imbalances and was there for two months. We were finally able to bring him home in October and he was sent home with a G tube, feeding pump, oxygen and at least 11 prescription drugs. <br> <br> Grayson is now off of the oxygen, and has the G tube for night feedings only with a plan in place to stop soon. He no longer needs three of his medications and he weighs 14 pounds, 8 ounces. He makes a lot of noises, which always makes us happy. He has physical therapy and occupational therapy at home once a week and clinical appointments a few times a month. Grayson is now 16 months old, with an adjusted age of 11 months. In the next couple of months, we will start to see if there are signs of cerebral palsy or any other issues from his early birth. <br> <br> Grayson is one of six children and Heather and I decided from the beginning that he will live a normal life despite any issues. We feel so much better sleeping at night since Grayson came home and we do everything we can as a family. Heather and I have five daughters: one is a special education teacher, two daughters are in college, and we have an eight-year-old and a six-year-old. Each one of our kids is different in his or her own way and it is great to be a part of that. We love being parents to our wonderful children, Chelsea, Nicole, Kelsey, Jordin, Micaela and Grayson. <br> <br> <div class="split"> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/6e0edb441a7c943e18631604ef934b74.jpg" alt="Little man finally gets to go home"> <figcaption> Little man finally gets to go home </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/1c7b046e8e5c291ec1b6151660a73511.jpg" alt="Celebrating his 1st birthday with one of his favorite nurses"> <figcaption> Celebrating his 1st birthday with one of his favorite nurses </figcaption> </figure> </div> Because of GBMC, we still have our only son, and we couldn't be more grateful. As word spread about Grayson, he was added to prayer lists around the world. A stranger named Kyle sent this lovely poem, which now hangs on Grayson's bedroom wall as a reminder of his strength. Our family would like to share it with you. <br> <br> <em>I may be tiny, but I am strong <br> I will not question what's right or wrong <br> Focused, committed, resolved <br> A puzzle for life, needing to be solved <br> Through the night, into the day <br> My name is Grayson, and I am here <br> to stay!</em>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3vkbXxDGYyg" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <p class="article-body"> This is the story of Prince Randall, a patient of Wound Care and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at GBMC. Mr. Randall went from wondering if he was going have his toe amputated to now having what his wife calls, "the prettiest toe she's ever seen!" </p>
<p class="article-body"> When I was at week 29 of my pregnancy, I went into GBMC to have blood work done since my blood pressure was high and wasn't going down. I didn't feel stressed out and I wasn't worried. As the doctors did some blood work and routine tests, I just had this feeling that this wasn't going to be one of those times when I entered and exited and everything was okay. I was right. <br> <br> The doctors told me that based on my protein count and blood pressure I had developed preeclampsia. Through a sonogram they also noticed I had developed IUGR (inner uterine growth restriction). Both of these are serious conditions and they landed me a bed in the high-risk unit. <br> <br> The doctors stated my original due date of January 27, 2013, wasn't going to happen and that I could deliver at any time. My husband and I met with staff and doctors of the NICU and discussed what would happen if our son was born early. The laundry list of things that could go wrong was overwhelming. Thanksgiving night, at only 31 weeks into my pregnancy, everything went downhill and I ended up in labor and delivery. Still convinced I was going to hold out until I hit 32 weeks, the doctors and nurses said my stats weren't good and I would have to have a sonogram first thing on Black Friday morning. That morning, at 8:00 a.m., I had my sonogram and it showed our son was only receiving 0-50% blood from the placenta. The staff immediately scheduled me for an emergency C-section and started the preparation process for delivery. </p> <blockquote> Our family arrived and saw me before I went under the knife. At 31 weeks, 1lb 14oz, our son Xavier Eli Chin was born. I saw his small face and heard a small cry before they took him up to the NICU and was thrilled he was okay. That began the next phase in our journey: raising a NICU baby. </blockquote> From kangaroo-ing to bathing, diaper changes, pumping and bottle feeding, the NICU nurses showed me how to care for our son. They set us up for success. I cry sitting here thinking about how hard they worked. I stayed long hours in the NICU and got to know the staff. Nurse Monica was amazing during the week and so was Nurse Kim, our weekend nurse. I will never forget how much they cared for our son when we weren't there. They taught us so much and showed love for a child who had a small survival rate. He had the deck stacked against him and he fought hard. The NICU nurses helped him in the fight and we are forever grateful. While being told by the doctors Xavier could be blind or deaf, or have a chromosomal or genetic disorder, we believed God had a plan. And He certainly did. God gave us angels in the NICU and they saved our son. They gave Xavier a chance, and for that we are so thankful. <br> <br> My son just recently turned two years old. Xavier is just as feisty and active as he was in the NICU! He is talking, running, climbing, playing and constantly learning. He has a passion for construction vehicles (they are everywhere in our house!) and he loves <em>Frozen</em>. <br> <br> We are forever grateful for the care we received at GBMC. <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oqNpighp55k" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h5 style="text-align: right"> * For closed captioning, click the <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/edd9ba121c174d97705f2b40e511e38b.png" style="width: 20px;"> button in the bottom-right of the video. * </h5> In July 2010, Jasmine and Khary Thomas’ 13-month-old daughter, Kharmin, was still recovering from a severe case of bacterial meningitis when her family received troubling news. Although the toddler was healing from her illness, she had suffered profound hearing loss in both of her ears… and it was only getting worse. <br> <br> “In rare cases of bacterial meningitis, the cochlea — a part of the inner ear that transforms sound into nerve impulses, which then travel to the brain — may begin to ossify, or turn to bone,” says Brian Kaplan, MD, Chairman, Department of Otolaryngology, the surgeon who treated Kharmin. “This happens as a result of the body fighting off the infection. Once the cochlea begins to ossify, it may lead to a permanent hearing loss which cannot be treated by a cochlear implant.” <br> <br> The Thomases soon found themselves at GBMC’s Cochlear Implant Center, where Kharmin was examined and quickly cleared for surgery to implant two devices, called cochlear implants, that would restore her hearing before it was too late. The devices consist of: <ul> <li> a speech processor with dual microphones, worn behind the ear to pick up sound </li> <li> a small device placed under the skin near the ear, with electrodes inserted in the cochlea </li> </ul> The speech processor collects sound from the microphone, converts it to information and sends it to the cochlear implant. The implant device tells nerves in the ear to send a message to the brain and the message is understood as sound. Typically, the devices are implanted in two separate surgeries, but in Kharmin’s case, there was no time to wait. After nearly six hours, Dr. Kaplan successfully placed cochlear implants in both ears during one surgery, a first at GBMC. <br> <br> <blockquote> “...Everyone at GBMC has been helpful and patient, which gives us hope for Kharmin’s future.” </blockquote> “Hearing loss is a new experience for us,” says Jasmine Thomas. “But, with the help of Kharmin’s caregivers, we continue learning about her condition and how we can support her.” <br> <br> Once she recovered from the surgery, Kharmin’s cochlear implants were activated. With her hearing restored, she now receives aural rehabilitation therapy from the specially trained staff at the Cochlear Implant Center. Through therapy, she is learning that sound has meaning, how to properly identify sounds and how to develop her speech and language skills, just like her peers. <br> <br> “We never imagined something like this could happen to our family,” says Mrs. Thomas. “But everyone at GBMC has been helpful and patient, which gives us hope for Kharmin’s future.”
<h4> Adele Millwood's Story </h4> For my first 32 years, I heard all the sounds of life, including my two sons' first cries. But Christmas 1988 was the last time I heard normally. That winter, I suffered a major sinus infection which left me with mild hearing loss in the right ear. I got a hearing aid and things started sounding better; doctors assured me it wouldn't get worse, but over the next 16 years, that proved to be quite untrue. <br> <br> When my left ear starting fading also, I had numerous MRIs, but doctors could not figure it out. I vividly remember staying up all night with my husband, Randy, both of us crying. What was wrong with me? Why was I losing my hearing? We were both terrified I would wake up one morning completely deaf. <br> <br> Even with the addition of a second hearing aid, it was getting dangerous for me to be in parking lots; I couldn't hear cars speeding up behind me. I was terrified of being home alone when Randy traveled for work. My corgi adapted to my loss and helpfully barked to alert me to the phone or oven timer, but I was isolating myself socially. It was difficult to be involved in conversations with friends, and my adolescent sons were struggling to communicate with me, too. Frightened and frustrated, they lost patience when I was unable to understand. <br> <br> <div class="split"> <figure class="image-left"> <img class="" src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/6333cc992e13f990824ba133bb18567e.jpg" alt="Adele's wedding"> <figcaption> Adele and Randy's wedding day </figcaption> </figure> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/77d7463780bf46e05bc45821b9ed4317.jpg"> <figcaption> The family celebrating Christmas </figcaption> </figure> </div> In the spring of 2005, at my (dreaded) yearly hearing test, the audiologist asked, "How are you functioning?" In tears, knowing I had 'failed' once again, I responded that I was not. I was actually totally withdrawn from life. She said I might qualify for a cochlear implant (CI), and I cried even more at the hope of a solution. There were very few surgeons near our New Orleans home at the time who were doing CI surgery, but I was referred to one and confirmed as a candidate. On August 27, 2005, I got approval in the mail from my insurance company. The very next day, Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans and forced us to evacuate our home. I had that insurance letter in my hand on the way out the door! <br> <br> My son Caleb's wedding was scheduled to take place in New Orleans for the week after we evacuated, but luckily we relocated. Though it was a beautiful day, I could not hear the vows or the toasts. All the noise was muffled by my hearing aids. The same thing happened at my son Josh's graduation. He was valedictorian, but even from the front row, I didn't hear his speech. My surgery could not come soon enough; I had zero reservations about it. <br> <br> My CI was scheduled for six weeks after Hurricane Katrina, and the hospital regained power just in time. They shaved the right half of my head and made an incision all the way behind my ear. Then, I waited six weeks for activation, anxious, nervous and excited. It seemed like forever. My hearing aid in my left ear wasn't doing much and I depended on reading lips. Curiosity consumed me — what would it sound like? The first things I heard were beeps and buzzes. They were testing the electrodes to make sure everything was connecting and firing up. <br> <br> <blockquote> The next thing I knew, I heard Randy say he loved me, and we were both crying. He was the first one I wanted to hear. </blockquote> <br> <br> One week after activation day was Thanksgiving, my first real holiday in a long time. The whole family gathered, and unlike years before, I was part of every conversation. Voices sounded crisp and clear, and I learned that my sons had developed a habit of talking about me behind my back, even when I was in the room! In those first few weeks, I relearned sounds. Even the sounds of the car blinker and the hum of the refrigerator were new. Some sounds were wonderful: waterfalls, birds chirping and waves crashing on the beach. <br> <br> <figure class="image-right"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/653ff7f8f6ef1062af76238bede33859.jpg" alt="Adele with her granddaughter"> <figcaption> Adele with her granddaughter, Kaylee </figcaption> </figure> I celebrated five years of hearing in October 2011 by having my other ear implanted. I started out with two good ears and wanted that again. By now, we had moved home to Maryland and I was referred to Doctor Regina Presley and Doctor Scott London, who are both incredible. The surgery was way easier than the first one: the incision was much smaller, and they barely had to shave my head. I went home that day, thrilled with the results and motivated by my grandbabies to recover quickly. I got to hear my granddaughter Kaylee say her first word, my name, 'Delly.' <br> <br> I am forever grateful for finding the Cochlear Implant Center at GBMC. They took the time to know me as a person and understand my life and family. I'm not just a number here, like at other places. Dr. Presley goes above and beyond, even holding workshops for patients where we care for each other and learn together. Her passion for helping is amazing. She now helps me extend my wonderful experience with the Cochlear Implant Center into volunteerism by connecting me with new CI candidates. I answer questions from a patient perspective and offer support. It's so much more than just a clinical setting here — it's family. <br> <br> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> After Kelly Campbell had surgery in April 2015, she was recovering well and healing with no complications. Things changed suddenly three weeks after surgery, when she began to have debilitating symptoms. Ms. Campbell told her doctor about the high fever, extreme fatigue and intense pain she was experiencing, and was immediately referred to Richard Franklin, MD, a board-certified general surgeon at GBMC specializing in wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). <br> <br> "I was so sick before I saw Dr. Franklin that I could hardly walk," says Ms. Campbell. "I had no energy whatsoever." <br> <br> Dr. Franklin diagnosed Ms. Campbell with a compromised flap, a condition that can occur in procedures where a flap of skin is raised to close an incision and the body rejects the skin. Skin flaps are commonly used in ventral hernia repairs, skin cancer removal and plastic surgery procedures such as face lifts or, in Ms. Campbell's case, breast surgery. <br> <br> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/149a0079db0a16b92bd5f7888e309e19.jpg" class="image-right">"When the flap becomes compromised, tissue necrotizes, or dies, and is rapidly lost," Dr. Franklin explains, noting that for Ms. Campbell, this was impeding blood flow to the area, causing her fever and fatigue. "The goal was to work quickly to save the tissue and prevent further damage. I had Ms. Campbell start hyperbaric oxygen therapy that afternoon." <br> <br> A compromised flap is often treated with HBOT, a type of treatment in which patients breathe 100 percent oxygen in an enclosed chamber at two to three times atmospheric pressure. Oxygen dissolves into the blood plasma causing an increase in tissue oxygenation, stimulating healing of tissues, forming new blood vessels, controlling infections and regenerating new, healthy tissues. <br> <br> A session in the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber lasts about 90 minutes and a technician remains next to the chamber the entire time. It takes between 10-15 minutes to adjust the pressure at the beginning of the treatment and to return to normal pressure at the end, and every patient's level is different. "Our practice strictly follows the guidelines set forth by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society," explains Thomas Arwady, Wound Care Consultant, noting that the pressure in the chamber is similar to scuba diving. <br> <br> If a patient expresses concerns about claustrophobia, sedation is available by consultation with the physician; however, the chamber is completely transparent, and flat-screen TVs are nearby for viewing the extensive movie collection. In addition to compromised flaps and grafts, the GBMC Hyperbaric Medicine Department is able to treat a number of other hyperbaric indications such as diabetic foot ulcers, necrotizing infections and osteomyelitis, osteoradionecrosis (bone damage caused by radiation therapy) and other soft tissue radiation injuries. <br> <br> Ms. Campbell's treatment at the Wound Care Center involved 20 treatments in the hyperbaric chamber, followed by additional wound care techniques until she was fully healed four months into treatment. <br> <br> </p> <blockquote> "I started feeling better after two weeks. Once the progression of the necrosis stopped, I started to feel like myself again." </blockquote> Dr. Franklin notes that Ms. Campbell could have required up to 12 months of routine wound care if she had not pursued hyperbaric therapy, adding that she also could have lost both breasts if she had not sought treatment right away. <br> <br> "Dr. Franklin was absolutely wonderful," says Ms. Campbell. "If it wasn't for his support, along with the staff and nurses, I don't know if I would have had such a great experience going through such a hard time." <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
Dayna Bell's StoryAt age 29, the last thing on my mind was cancer. I was busy planning my wedding and working as a speech pathologist. I had a faint family history, but nothing that caused me concern. When I discovered the lump in my breast, I had it checked immediately. "It's nothing to worry about," my doctor from another hospital said. However, a few months later, it had grown bigger and so had my worries. I was rechecked by another physician and, only three days before my 30th birthday, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly, my world was turned upside down. I was supposed to get married in three months! Luckily, the physicians and staff at the Sandra & Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC started me on treatment right away. I had a lumpectomy, eight weeks of chemotherapy and 36 daily radiation treatments. Dr. Paul Celano and his staff knew about my upcoming wedding and assured me that I would still be a blushing bride. Two months before the wedding, I began losing my hair, so my fiancé shaved my head. In November 2007, we had our dream wedding in Disney World and, although I wore a wig, I still felt like a princess. In March 2008, I completed my treatment. Instead of being excited, I felt scared. What if the cancer came back? Dr. Celano reassured me that I would be back for follow-up appointments, and that he was only a phone call away. I did end up back at GBMC in February 2010, but this time for a much happier occasion - the birth of my daughter, Ellie. Having a child was something I always dreamed of, but I was unsure if it would ever happen after my diagnosis. Now that I have a daughter, I got tested for the breast cancer gene at the Harvey Institute for Human Genetics at GBMC. I thought it was important to find out, not only for me, but for her. I tested positive for the gene and had a double mastectomy with reconstruction at GBMC in 2011. I am thankful to have made this decision and appreciate the support offered by the entire GBMC team. GBMC saved my life and helped me bring a new life into the world. You can't ask for much more than that.
<p class="article-body"> I am a two-time breast cancer survivor. <br> <br> My first diagnosis occurred when I turned 40 years of age, which was seven years ago. I remarried the love of my life, we returned from our honeymoon on a Sunday and that next Wednesday I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). I had my first meeting with Dr. Lauren Schnaper, and she sent me for a stereotactic biopsy of the left breast. It was confirmed that I indeed did have DCIS. I then was scheduled for my lumpectomy. <br> <br> Dr. Schnaper was the kindest, most informative doctor I have ever met. Once my lumpectomy was completed, I then met with Dr. Robert Donegan, my oncologist. He placed me on the medication tamoxifen, which I took for about three months, but my body just could not handle the medication. I then went through six weeks of radiation, and that caused me to have a pretty bad burn. Through it all, the doctors were very helpful and supportive. <br> <br> I've kept up with my mammograms throughout the years, but if we fast forward to this past June, 2014, I found out that my breast cancer had returned in the same breast. That news really threw me into a tail spin. I returned to Dr. Schnaper, and she sent me again for another stereotactic biopsy which came back positive for pre-cancerous cells. She then recommended going in to get a larger tissue sample, so she performed another lumpectomy. My lumpectomy came back with the DCIS. <br> <br> At that moment we decided to do a double mastectomy. I just decided that I was too young to go through this again, so on July 30th, 2014, Dr. Schnaper performed the surgery. I was scared to death, but she and her team made me feel at ease. After my mastectomy, we got my pathology report back and I indeed had a small area of immature dendritic cells or IDC. Early detection has saved my life not once, but twice. <br> <br> I am forever thankful for the entire team at the breast center, and the GBMC oncology department. Dr. Sheri Slezak is my plastic surgeon at the moment, and she works very closely with Dr. Schnaper and is incredible. I had a staph infection in the left breast from my tissue expander during the beginning of my beast reconstruction, and had to have my expander removed. I ended up spending four days at GBMC’s main hospital on a vancomycin IV drip. I got incredible care at the hospital, from the emergency room staff, the doctors and the entire nursing staff. <br> <br> Dr. Slezak is incredible and very companionate. She checked on me every morning while I was in the hospital. Dr. Donegan ran into my husband in the halls and he even came into my hospital room just to visit with me and talk. I am still currently in treatment at the breast care center and could never imagine seeing anyone else but this team. <br> <br> Because of GBMC’s entire staff, from the nursing staff all the way up to my surgeon, I felt at ease during my surgeries and procedures. I am here and able to share my story with other women and encourage them to get their mammograms because of my wonderful care. I am forever grateful to GBMC. </p> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Jewel Henry is used to hard work and the aches and pains that go with it. After a career in the military, he became a mail handler, a career he’s had for almost 21 years. As part of his job, he carries the heavy containers of bulk mail that arrive at the main post office in Baltimore City. Over time, back pain became a regular part of his day and, as the years passed, that pain became more and more severe. <br> <br> “I toughed it out for years, figuring it was just what happens when you have the kind of job I do,” he says. “But eventually, I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I lost feeling in my feet, my back hurt all the time and I could barely walk upstairs. I could never get comfortable. Once, my wife and I were driving from Baltimore to Detroit. We hadn’t been on the road for long, but I had to pull over at a rest stop because sitting was so uncomfortable. I was living with this pain every day and it was getting in the way, keeping me from doing what I wanted.” <br> <br> </p> <h3> Time to talk about surgery </h3> Mr. Henry tried physical therapy and steroid injections to help relieve his back pain and these treatments helped for a while. Eventually, however, they became less effective. A friend who was also retired from the military recommended he see the physician who had helped him with his back pain, Bimal Rami, MD, FACS, Division Head of Neurosurgery at GBMC and physician with Greater Baltimore Neurosurgical Associates (GBNA). <br> <br> “Mr. Henry had moderate to severe spinal stenosis,” explains Dr. Rami. “This condition puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, which is what causes the pain and the numbness he experienced. Because physical therapy and steroid injections were no longer working, I performed a laminectomy and fusion. This surgery decompresses the spinal canal and stabilizes the spine by placing rods and screws in the back and front of the spine to help reinforce the damaged areas.” <br> <br> “Every day is a good day for me now,” says Mr. Henry. “I don’t have the pain and numbness. I can stand up straight and tall. If I had known that surgery could work this well, I wouldn’t have waited so long! I’m so glad I found Dr. Rami. I felt very confident in him from the moment we met. I always planned to travel across the country in an RV with my wife when I retire. Now, I’ll be able to enjoy the trip!” <br> <br> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
<p class="article-body"> Kristen and Tom Hewitt got the surprise of their lives when they learned they would become parents — to identical triplets! The couple, married for four years, became an instant family of five upon learning they would have three boys. This is their story, in their own words. <br> <br> We always knew we wanted to have children. After Tom’s sister gave birth to a baby boy in March of 2015, she jokingly said, “You guys are up next!” Oddly enough, later that week Kristen took a pregnancy test and it was positive! We were thrilled to find out we were expecting, since we had been trying to conceive for more than two years. <br> <br> We had an ultrasound scheduled during our first appointment at Perinatal Associates at GBMC. After the technician started moving the wand across Kristen’s belly and looking at the screen, she didn’t say anything for a while. Eventually, Tom broke the awkward silence by joking, “So, is there more than one baby in there?” When she told us there were three babies, we looked at each other in pure joy — and shock! Finding out we were having triplets, especially without any fertility treatments, was a huge surprise! When we learned that the babies were identical a few months later, we knew this had to be something rare. <br> <br> </p> <figure class="image-left"> <img src="/sites/default/files/hg_features/hg_post/28b3c4759aecaf43c74c5dd79b429b83.jpg"> <figcaption> Identical triplets Oliver, Finnegan and Thomas Hewitt. Avid hockey fans, Kristen and Tom Hewitt have nicknamed their identical triplets "the Hewitt Hat Trick." The boys already have personalized hockey sticks. </figcaption> </figure> Kristen was scheduled for a Cesarean section on October 13; however, the boys decided to come early. After Kristen’s water broke early in the morning on October 6, she was admitted for delivery that day. On October 6, 2015, we welcomed our three sons: Thomas “Trip” Hewitt III, weighing in at 4 lbs, 3oz; Finnegan “Finn” James at 3 lbs, 6 oz; and Oliver “Ollie” Dean at 3 lbs, 12 oz. Aside from Trip needing initial support with breathing, the boys were all in great health from the start. <br> <br> When the boys were born, the news of their arrival garnered a significant amount of media attention. It was honestly a bit overwhelming! We knew the boys were special from a statistical perspective, but did not realize how popular they would be in the news. When we saw ourselves on “Good Morning America” and the front page of The Baltimore Sun, we really had to step back and realize how unique our situation was. Things have settled down for now; however, we do get attention whenever we leave the house. It’s not something we’re used to, but we haven’t really gone anywhere in public with the boys except for short walks around the neighborhood. We suspect when the weather gets warmer and as the boys grow, we’ll draw more attention! <br> <br> <blockquote> We want to thank the labor and delivery nurses and the NICU nurses. Everyone took great care of us and the boys. The labor and delivery nurses were so helpful and kept Kristen as comfortable as possible during the hospital stay. </blockquote> The logistics of raising three identical boys is a constant challenge. When we first got home from the hospital, we used a color-coding system Tom developed to tell the boys apart. Now that the boys are nearly three months old [as of January 2016], the three are looking more and more identical every day. It took some time, but we have finally found our groove as parents of multiples. We live four hours at a time. Everything revolves around those four hours, in which over an hour is dedicated to changings and feedings. Then it’s the countdown to the next changing/feeding session. Depending on the time of day, the “in-between” consists of stimulation and interaction with the boys, reading books and of course, naps! <br> <br> One challenge we have run into is the sheer volume of diapers and formula needed for all the changing/feeding sessions! When we purchased our home in Baltimore City’s Hampden neighborhood, we had the addition of one baby in mind! Storage for diapers and formula for three babies in a rowhome is nonexistent, so we have frequent Amazon deliveries to our house! <br> <br> Our support system has been incredible. To anyone who is reading this who has assisted us during our journey, we want to say thank you. It seems like everyone who has helped us went above and beyond because they knew they were part of a special situation, and we’re truly grateful for that. We are specifically appreciative of our doctors at Perinatal Associates, to include Dr. Victor Khouzami, Dr. Margaret Cyzeski and Dr. Kristin Engorn. The NICU nurses took such great care of our boys and got them healthy enough to come home. We also appreciated all the tips and tricks we needed to start our lives as parents! <br> <br> All the reading and planning doesn’t prepare you for the determination needed to raise triplets. The boys are truly a joy and a blessing to us, and that gives us strength. People often ask us how we’re adapting to life with triplets. Our answer? We’re running on love and awe…and coffee. <br> <br> Follow the Hewitt triplets at <a alt="Follow the Hewitt Hat Trick Triplets here on Facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/hewitthattrick/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/hewitthattrick/</a> <div class="end-of-story"> </div>
