Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The boy of 13 who received a heart transplant

 The boy of 13 who received a heart transplant
Joseph Cullen, the 13-year-old two weeks ago was transplanted heart was today discharged from a hospital in Buenos Aires, where he thanked the donor family, after a recovery that his mother described as "amazing and surprising."

Joseph suffered from severe cardiomyopathy, a condition in which needed to be transplanted the heart and that, in the absence of donors, placed first on the waiting list for the Central Unique National Institute Coordinator of Ablation and Implant (INCUCAI), to the distress of his family.

Was admitted on November 27 and only on February 28 could be operated, after a family decided to donate the organs of a deceased aide: "I want to thank very much, because they had to make a decision very difficult. But we must not forget there are other 7,600 people waiting for organs, "remarked Joseph told reporters outside the door of the Italian Hospital in Buenos Aires neighborhood of Almagro.

Smiling, with a plaid shirt in blue and gray tone, and surrounded by family, staff and classmates Santa Isabel, San Isidro, the teenager waved, took his thumbs up and revealed that "first thing" he wants to do to get home is "eat and drink a soda."

Beside him, Joseph's mother, Elisa, excited, said he "can not eat with salt, so try to disguise meals. Her recovery was amazing, amazing. Three months were very tough." The boy remarked that "it is nice to finally leave the hospital. I thank all who prayed for me and gave me strength, but we must not forget the other 7600 people waiting. As happened to me, it can happen to another. Thanks to the donor's family. I know it's difficult to give the organs of the deceased. I mean awareness is very important, and that all those who donated may have the opportunity to do so, "he added.

HernĂ¡n Cullen, Joseph's father, in tears, expressed his gratitude "to the family that had this tremendous act of love to donate an organ. Joy is on the one hand, but we also know that there are plenty of people waiting. We hope this will give an extra push and hope. "

"The work of the doctors was impressive, are heroes of medicine," the praised.

On the intervention, Dr. Jorge Makarovsky, head of the medical team that operated the teenager, said that "the end of November had severe dilated cardiomyopathy compact, a genetic disease for years without symptoms, or has but overlapping."

"Joseph joined the list of emergency heart transplant, and 6 February, put an artificial heart until the generosity of an anonymous family allowed the Feb. 28 was transplanted. Need care now very important, but with 13 years has a life ahead, "he said.

One of the wishes of Joseph was to find Disney World, and entrusted by his mother, the NGO Make a Wish and he predicted that can fulfill that dream.

"We are happy. When doctors say it is OK, Jose will be able to travel and fulfill his dream of visiting Disney, thanks to this NGO," smiled her mother.

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