ChillingMedicalDramas:TheMysteryoftheBoyWho

TurnedBlue

Amysteriousblockageinthischild'slungcollapsedhis
parents'world.

The2011holidayseasonwasroughforReceMostek.The
19montholdfromOmahahadspentmuchofNovember
andDecemberinandoutofdoctorsofficeswithcoughs,
colds,andfevers.Hisconditionhaddeterioratedsomuch
thathewashospitalizedwithpneumoniaforfourdaysin
February2012.EvenuponhisreleaseoneThursday
morning,doctorswarnedhisparentsthathewasnotoutof
thewoodsyet.
Justanhourafterhearrivedhomeandunderhisfather
JamieswatchfuleyeRecebegantocough
uncontrollablyandturnblue.
BelievingthathissonwaschokingonapieceofPlay
Doh,Jamiecalled911andbeganCPR.Anambulance
arrivedafewminuteslater.ThefirstrespondersgaveRece
oxygenandrushedhimtothenearesthospital.Hearrived
criticallyill,limp,andstillblue.WhenintubatingRece
withabreathingtubemadelittledifference,theERdoctor
knewthatanobstructionwaspreventingairfromentering
hislungs.However,shenoticedthathisoxygenlevels
rosewheneversheplacedhimonhisrightside,which
indicatedthattheblockageprobablywasntinhisthroat.
ChestXraysrevealedtheproblemwasinReceslungs.
Hisrightlungwasinflamedfrompneumoniaandwas
collapsing,andaforeignbodythatwasntvisibleonthe
Xraylikelyblockedtheleft.
Thedoctorshadtomovequickly;Recesriskofbrain
damageincreasedeachtimehisoxygenlevelsdippedtoo
low.AtransportteamrushedRecetothepediatric
intensivecareunitatChildrensHospitalandMedical
Centerabout20minutesaway,wherespecialistswouldtry
tosurgicallyremovetheobstruction.Oncethere,Recewas
placedonextracorporealmembraneoxygenation(ECMO),
abypasspumpthatprovidesoxygenwhenapatients
lungscannolongerfunction.Forthenext45minutes,
pediatricpulmonologistPaulSammut,MD,andateamof
surgeonstriedtograspandremovetheobjectwitha
varietyoftools.Dr.Sammutfinallysucceededwithatool
usedbyurologiststoextractkidneystones.
Meanwhile,theMosteksspentafrantichourtryingto
comprehendthedirenatureofRecessituation.ThenDr.
Sammutenteredthewaitingroomandgavetheworried
parentsathumbsup.Insideaplasticvialwasthe
unbelievableitemthathadnearlytakenReceslife:a
popcornkernelthathadbeenlodgedinhisleftlung.
Recesconditionwastheresultofaperfectstorm.Months
earlier,hehadinhaledakernelofpopcorn,whichbecame
lodgedinhisrightlung.Thisledtoinfectionsand
breathingproblems,includingpneumonia.Buthis
excessivecoughingearlierthatdayhadthrustthekernel
fromtherightlungandpropelleditintohisleftlung,
whereitunluckilyblockedhisairway.
Today,Recesbreathingisstrong,andthereisnosignof
braindamagefromoxygendeprivation.Atinyscaronthe
sideofhisneckwherethebreathingtubewasinsertedis
theonlyremnantofhislifethreateningordeal.The
Mosteksaremuchmorewaryofgivinghimpopcornnow.
WheneverIseepeoplefeedingtheiryoungkidspopcorn
andnotpayingattention,Iwanttowarnthemtobe
careful!saysRecesmother,Brenda.