Journey to Renewal: Peoria Mom Shares Life-Saving Lung Transplant Story

Journey to Renewal: Peoria Mom Shares Life-Saving Lung Transplant Story

M Hasan    5:14 AM   

A Journey of Resilience and Recovery

A Peoria mother is on the path to recovery after undergoing a life-saving double lung transplant. After nearly two months without the ability to speak, she has finally regained her voice, marking a significant milestone in her journey.

Ali Briskey, 41, underwent the double lung transplant at Norton Thoracic Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center last year. Her story is one of perseverance, strength, and hope. “Our journey has been a rollercoaster, lots of ups and downs,” she shared, reflecting on the challenges she faced.

Briskey’s condition began when she was pregnant, as the Scleroderma she had been living with progressed into interstitial lung disease. This condition caused her lungs to fail, along with some heart complications. “My lungs were just failing, and then I had some heart complications as well,” she explained.

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that can lead to the hardening of internal organs, making it difficult to breathe and causing a range of other health issues. For Briskey, this meant a long and challenging battle with her health. “I was hospitalized for 106 days through this journey,” she said.

After the birth of her youngest child, Briskey found herself frequently returning to the hospital. Eventually, she was referred to Norton Thoracic Institute, where she underwent evaluations and was accepted as a transplant candidate. She was placed on the transplant list, and her condition was severe enough that she was prioritized for the procedure.

“Ali’s case was very critical,” said Dr. Leena Pawar of St. Joseph’s Norton Thoracic Institute. “Her numbers were already on the higher side, and I think she received this transplant really quickly, within a matter of a few days.”

The transplant was successful, but it came with its own set of challenges. One of the most difficult aspects for Briskey was losing her voice. “I was stripped of my voice completely,” she said. “I was unable to speak for about 48 days. I was stripped of my ability to move and to walk and to just function in this world, and I had to learn all of that over again.”

Despite these obstacles, Briskey has made remarkable progress. Her ability to speak again is a symbol of her resilience and determination. The road to recovery has not been easy, but she continues to push forward, focusing on regaining her strength and independence.

Key Challenges Faced by Ali Briskey

• Progression of Scleroderma: The autoimmune disease led to interstitial lung disease, severely impacting her respiratory system.
• Heart Complications: Alongside lung failure, she experienced additional health issues that complicated her condition.
• Extended Hospitalization: A 106-day hospital stay marked the peak of her struggle with illness.
• Post-Transplant Recovery: After the surgery, she lost her voice and mobility, requiring extensive rehabilitation.
• Emotional and Physical Struggles: The journey included emotional highs and lows, as well as physical setbacks that tested her endurance.

The Role of Medical Experts

Dr. Leena Pawar played a crucial role in evaluating and treating Briskey. Her expertise and the team at Norton Thoracic Institute provided the necessary care and support throughout the process. The rapid response to her condition ensured that she received the transplant in time to save her life.

Looking Ahead

As Briskey continues her recovery, she remains focused on rebuilding her life. Her story serves as an inspiration to others facing similar challenges. With each step forward, she demonstrates the power of resilience, medical innovation, and the human spirit.

Wife's Terrifying Response as Husband Dies in MRI Suction Accident

Wife's Terrifying Response as Husband Dies in MRI Suction Accident

M Hasan    4:54 AM   

A Tragic Incident at an MRI Facility

The grieving wife of a man who tragically died after being sucked into an MRI machine in New York has shared her heart-wrenching story, revealing the traumatic moments that led to her husband’s death. Keith McAllister, 61, suffered critical injuries when he was pulled into the machine by his necklace at Nassau Open MRI in Westbury, Long Island. He later succumbed to his injuries, according to local authorities.

For the first time since the incident, Adrienne Jones-McAllister, the woman’s wife, spoke about the harrowing experience. She described how she had an MRI on her knee and needed assistance getting up, so she asked the technician to bring her husband to help her off the table. During an MRI scan, patients and anyone in the room are typically instructed to remove all jewelry and piercings due to the strong magnetic fields generated by the machine.

However, Ms. Jones-McAllister revealed that the technician allowed her husband to enter the room even though he was wearing a 20-pound weight-training chain. She recounted the horrifying moment when she saw her husband walk toward the table and the machine "snatch him" immediately.

As he approached her, she said, "At that instant, the machine switched him around, pulled him in, and he hit the MRI." Tears streamed down her face as she recalled the desperate plea: "I said: 'Could you turn off the machine, call 911, do something, Turn this damn thing off!'"

Her husband went limp in her arms, and the memory continues to haunt her. She described how the technician tried to help pull her husband off the machine but it was impossible. "He waved goodbye to me and then his whole body went limp," she told the TV outlet.

According to Ms. Jones-McAllister, her husband suffered several heart attacks after being freed from the machine and eventually died. She claimed that this was not the first time she and her husband had visited Nassau Open MRI, and that he had worn his chain there before.

She explained, "That was not the first time that guy has seen that chain. They had a conversation about it before." She added that previous interactions included comments like, "Ooooooh, that's a big chain!"

This incident is not the first time an MRI machine has caused a fatality in New York. In 2001, six-year-old Michael Colombini of Croton-on-Hudson was killed at the Westchester Medical Center when an oxygen tank flew into the chamber, drawn in by the MRI's 10-ton electromagnet. In 2010, a lawsuit was settled for $2.9 million.

MRI machines use strong magnetic fields that can exert powerful forces on objects made of iron, some steels, and other magnetizable materials. According to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, these machines are strong enough to fling a wheelchair across the room.

Nassau Open MRI has not yet responded to requests for comment. The tragic event has raised concerns about safety protocols and the importance of adhering to guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future.