Whatever it takes: Fighting for Michael

Michael stood at the top of the hill, staring down at the glittering white snow. The prospect of skiing to the bottom was scary — on previous trips, he’d refused to try, worried that he would fall. But this time was different. He was ready to take a chance. Attempting to balance without using poles, he pushed himself forward and glided through the powder as his family cheered him on. By the end of the day, the 8-year-old had sailed down the slopes five times, all by himself. The accomplishment was even more meaningful for his parents, Bill and Lisa Smith, who have watched him fight to survive — and thrive — since he was an infant. “He had some issues with spitting up and turning blue and was diagnosed with acid reflux when he was about a month old,” says Bill. “But we had suspicions that something else was wrong.” Setting an example Sure enough, three days later, Michael experienced volvulus, a life-threatening disorder in which the intestines twist, cutting off blood supply to the small bowel. As a result, surgeons had to remove about 90 percent of his small intestines, leaving him with a serious condition called short bowel syndrome, which prevents the body from extracting the nutrients it needs to survive. Doctors determined that Michael had also suffered multiple strokes. His physicians referred the family to the Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation (CAIR) at Boston Children’s Hospital. There, Michael underwent a series of procedures with Dr. T...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation Dr. Tom Jaksic G-J tube Hale Center for Families short bowel syndrome (SBS). volvulus Source Type: news