Reena ’s story: A bright future with short bowel syndrome

She’s just 16, but Reena Zuckerman knows exactly what she wants to be doing in another 10 years. “My dream is to play on the press team in the annual Women’s Congressional Softball Game,” says the aspiring political journalist. Since 2009, the event has pitted members of Congress against the press corps, raising nearly a million dollars for charity. “When I’m not doing schoolwork or watching TV, I’m listening to political podcasts and NPR,” Reena confesses. It’s an impressive goal, but one that’s no doubt attainable for this driven teen, who’s been pushing herself to defy expectations since she was a baby. Her accomplishments are all the more remarkable considering that she was born with a serious gastrointestinal condition. A whole new world Reena’s parents, Deena and Brian, knew as soon as she was born that she would need surgery. “Her stomach was incredibly distended,” remembers Deena. “She was transferred immediately to Boston Children’s Hospital.” There, the infant underwent surgery by Dr. Tom Jaksic to repair a volvulus, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the intestines twist. The subsequent blockage can cut off blood flow, destroying tissue. Like many children who undergo surgery for this problem, Reena lost a substantial amount of her bowel — about two-thirds of her small intestine — in the process. As a result, she was left with short bowel syndrome (or “short gut”), a serious condition that prevents the body from ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation Dr. Tom Jaksic G-tube short bowel syndrome (SBS). volvulus Source Type: news