Jul 2, 2009 8:35 pm US/Eastern
Stunning Surgery For Man Fighting Kidney Disease
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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A groundbreaking surgery for an Ohio man who travels all the way to Maryland for help fighting kidney disease.
CBS
A story of second and third chances.
Kellye Lynn meets a man who travels to Maryland all the way from Ohio to have his hope and life restored.
Don Musick is in a hospital bed at the University of Maryland Medical Center for the second time around. The 62-year-old grandfather was first here 10 years ago for a kidney transplant.
"It happened quickly and it seemed like they had everything in order and we were impressed with that," said Musick.
Five years later his doctor says, "He developed an abnormal aortic aneurysm which is swelling of the aorta which is at risk for rupture," says Dr. Rajabrata Sarkar, Chief of Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center.
Doctors in Ohio bypassed the aorta, but it didn't work for long.
"That bypass failed we think at Christmas time about six months ago and when it failed his kidney failed so then he went on dialysis," adds Dr. Sarkar.
"So they told me, I would have to stay on dialysis and there was nothing they could do for me," adds Musick.
His wife Sandy says, "I told Don, we need to check what Maryland is doing because they brought us through last time."
Don's wife Sandy searched the Internet and found the doctor who would offer the Musick's a procedure, other doctors deemed too risky to perform.
"We went into his abdomen and took out the old large kidneys and remade his aorta with a plastic bypass to get good flow down to lower extremities," adds Dr. Sarkar.
Dr. Sarkar agreed to do the surgery to prepare Don for a future transplant. Never did he imagine that the kidney that hadn't worked in six months would start functioning again.
"Frankly, miraculously, due to the operation and good luck, the old transplant kidney woke up after six months and started working immediately in the operating room," adds Dr. Sarkar.
No more blocked blood flow, no more dialysis.
"I didn't see it as a life for me. Well, everything's changed," says Musick.
Musick says he now has options he didn't have before.
Don's kidney is functioning at about 30%. He's expected to be released from the hospital in the next few days.
Doctors at Maryland say this latest bypass should last for the rest of Don's life.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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