19 July 2007
I'm blabbier than normal today, but found something I want to share. As I searched for "fist pump" pictures for my earlier blog about Home Inspections, I came across this picture and followed the link back to the story.
The date on the story is September 1, 2004. Miles Coulson was pictured with a high-tech innovative heart pump in place as he awaited a donor heart. The pump was experimental and was keeping the 5-month old boy alive. The Berlin Heart, as it was called, had been used on only 49 children in Europe. The FDA approved its use on an individual basis and only three childen in the US had used it.
The longest time a baby had survived on the externally operating Berlin Heart was 100 days. The average donor wait was 90 to 110 days. Once Miles had the artificial heart, here was no turning back. The parents decided to risk it. The Berlin Heart was installed.
Then came the wait for a donor. If there was no donor, Miles would die.
This early story of Miles ended here with hope and prayers and new technology, but no resolution. Remember, this was September 2004.
At this point in I was reluctant to research the story further. I seem to find these life tales of courage and adversity and so many are touching and inspiring, but too, too many end tragically. I liked this snapshot of life and innocence and joy and didn't want this frozen moment fast-forwarded to a conclusion. I wanted to live only this moment for a while, basking in the glow of that perfect smile.
But, I had to know. I had found this photo researching for my AR blog and had wanted to share it with the community, so I decided if I were to do that, I needed to know the entire story. I typed "Miles Coulson" into the search engines and gritted my teeth. The most recent story I found was from Spring 2007 - I half-expected an obituary or an anecdotal tale that had reached a conclusion only Father could understand.
I was happy to be disappointed.
Here he is at nearly three years old (March 2007) - what more could a parent want than a healthy, strong, smiling kid. Haven't found more recent information, so when it comes to my littlest heroes, no news is always good news. My gratitude for the followup by Lucille Packard Children's Hospital in Stanford - even if it IS a touch commercial - and for the skilled German and American doctors and scientists. Pump that fist, Little Brother!
I like a happy ending.
Art
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