Little miracles everywhere...

So it's not a cooking post, but this story illustrates how something good can come out of something bad.

I've alluded to Mary's birth and subsequent health issues on this blog, albeit vaguely. Although I'm not typing the whole story out right now, I'll go into a little more detail. I mentioned previously that I've had HELLP syndrome. HELLP stands for hemolysis (breakdown/death of red blood cells), elevated liver enzymes (causing inflammation of the liver), and low platelets (those nifty little cells that help your blood clot). You can Google it for some interesting details in how it can manifest in pregnant women. It's extremely rare to have it in the severe form I had it - generally speaking, the cure for it is delivery of the baby. My HELLP was so rapid and severe in its onset - and its rarity - that my doctors didn't realize it for what it was until it was almost too late. Were it not for my OB, who had seen it before just once in her career, neither Mary or I would have likely survived. I like to refer to her as my guardian angel.




In a nutshell, due to the extremely high liver enzymes and low platelets - a perfect recipe for spontaneous internal bleeding - my liver ruptured. I had a massive subcapsular hepatic hematoma, in medical terms. And because of the hemolysis and extremely low platelets, my blood was not clotting. It took an emergency laparatomy to discover the massive hemorrhage, and four blood/platelet transfusions to stem the flow. Hence the medevac to a transplant unit - the docs were unable to determine how severe the damage was, but had predicted the need for me to be at a major hospital with a superior transplant unit to handle anything that might follow. Mary had her own issues, and that's why we became separated - she was not to leave the NICU at the hospital where she was delivered, and wasn't able to travel to me until four days later.

While I was in the hospital, and once I'd truly begun to recover - breathing tube removed, Propofol doses slowly reduced (yes - THAT Propofol), doctors slowly watching my various blood test results returning closer to normal - I found that I had so many people coming to my room. Doctors, nurses, med school students - all wanting to learn about my case. I knew it was rare, but I had no idea how rare until I spoke to a kindly older doctor who is considered the leading HELLP specialist in his region, someone who has been practicing over 30 years. He explained to me that he'd only seen 8 cases of HELLP in his career. Of those 8, only three were severe as mine. Of those three - zero survived.

I decided that as I became stronger, I would share my story as I was able - hoping that my story might help some medical professional who encounters this rare and scary disorder (which mimics other less scary disorders in some ways) save a life.

And last night, it looks like it did. I received a call from my father in law - who is a radiologist - telling me that he had received a call requesting an MRI consult. The patient was a woman who was 38 weeks pregnant with numbness and tingling in her face and hands. (I had numbness and tingling in my hands). They did a normal blood workup, but wanted to do an MRI to rule out a thrombosis in her brain.

My father in law, who is quite skilled at his job, requested more details on the woman's case before agreeing to do an MRI - especially since she was pregnant. The hospital informed him that the woman's platelet levels were around 30000 (normal platelets - 150,000 to 450,000 or so). As soon as he heard this number, he asked about her red blood cell count and her liver enzymes. The doctors responded that they didn't do those tests. My father in law requested that they do those tests and screen immediately for HELLP syndrome.

20 minutes later, the woman was in the delivery room, with a diagnosis of severe HELLP syndrome. Her liver did not rupture, but unfortunately her HELLP manifested itself in a number of neurological ways. I pray that she has a full recovery, and know that she is fortunate to be alive right now.

My father in law shared that he wouldn't have thought to ask these questions had I not had the experience that I did. All in all, although I'd never wish something like this on anyone, I'm glad that my experience and subsequent recovery may have bestowed someone with knowledge that could do good in the future. I look every day to find the good in everything, and today, it's appeared in the most unexpected of ways.

I am blessed beyond belief.