Thank A Scientist

• July 5, 2016
• Medical

Last week Ellie Jo’s cardiologist told us her VSD (ventricular septal defect- the one I originally talk about in this post) was small enough that there is a good chance she won’t ever need surgery. The option still isn’t totally off the table so he is going to check again in February, but he was very optimistic we can avoid it which made me breathe a sigh of relief that held four months worth of worry.

Let me tell you, I am one thankful mama!

I am thankful for the grace of God and I am thankful for scientists. I am thankful Dr. Alexander Muirhead decided to try to find a way to record a patient’s heart beat, Dr. Augustus Waller for taking this a step further and finding a way to record a heart beat in real time, and Dr. Willem Enithoven for perfecting the first practical electrocardiograph. These men are responsible for the EKG that helped Ellie Jo’s doctor determine her VSD is improving.

I am thankful Dr. WD Keidel thought to perform an ultrasound on a heart and Dr. Inge Edler for teaming up with an engineer to conduct the first echocardiogram using a shipyard sonar machine. They are responsible for the ECHO that allowed Ellie Jo’s doctor to get a detailed look at her defect and how it is effecting her heart.

I am thankful Dr. Francisco Romero was brave enough to be the first doctor to perform cardiac surgery even though it brought him criticism from his colleagues, Dr. Alexis Carrel for successfully performing open heart surgery and finding a method that paved the way for others to replicate his work, and all the innovative cardiologists who have come after them. (But, especially Ellie Jo’s!)

Her doctor commented on how well she is growing and how healthy she is and in that moment I was thankful for companies that develop infant formulas like the specialized one she is on. They provide a way for all of our babies to thrive, even when they can’t have breast milk. In Ellie Jo’s case she can’t have any dairy or soy protein so her formula is mostly corn which means I am also thankful for corn producers and the science behind the agricultural industry.

I am thankful for universities and teaching hospitals and nurses and technicians and everyone who makes sure our medical professionals are well prepared to do their jobs and patients are well cared for.

There is a whole lot to be thankful for and all of it has deep roots in science so today I would like to extend a sincere, overwhelming, thank you to everyone who supports scientific advances in the world. Your work matters to this mama ya’ll, a whole awful lot.

Do it all with love.