Martina, Pacing Since 2017
Martina was born with hydrocephalus. At 8 days old, a VP shunt was placed in her head to drain the fluid from her brain. Three years later, she was admitted to the pediatric ICU at Hospital Clínico Magallanes in Punta Arenas, Chile due to a blockage in the shunt. She suffered a brain stem lesion […]
Diaphragm Pacemaker for Teen Featured on WSB-TV Atlanta
Fourteen year-old Sedarius was recently featured on WSB-TV Atlanta as the first pediatric patient to receive surgery to implant a diaphragm pacemaker in the state of Georgia. Sedarius was diagnosed with CCHS when he was eight years old, and required a tracheotomy and ventilator to breathe while he slept. The Avery Breathing Pacemaker will allow him […]
Khaldoon, Pacing Since 2010
In 1994, Khaldoon, a 17-year old honors student and swimming champion from Syria, suffered a spinal cord injury in a diving accident leaving him a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic (tetraplegic). Sixteen years later, he was implanted with the Avery Breathing Pacemaker and was pacing 24/7 less than one year post surgery. In 2015, after four years of […]
Willie, Pacing Since 1994
In November 1993, Willie was paralyzed after diving into the pool at his high school. Thanks to his quick-thinking friends, he was airlifted to Johannesburg General Hospital in South Africa. In July 1994, Willie was implanted with the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker. Willie first heard of the Avery pacer when his General Practitioner told him and […]
Tina, Pacing Since 2009
Tina lives in Tennessee with her husband and daughter. In October 2008, Tina suffered with pneumonia that lingered for nine months. Doctors later diagnosed Tina with a rare and congenital condition, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin. The deficiency of Alpha-1 can cause severe breathing difficulties in adults (central hypoventilation) and is often referred to as “genetic COPD.” Tina says, […]
Michael
In 2005, Michael began to exhibit difficulty breathing. After an extensive workup and an unsuccessful trial with C-Pap, he was provided with a chest cuirass. About one week later, he suffered a stroke to the brain stem which paralyzed his diaphragm. Mike was left no other option than a tracheotomy and a mechanical ventilator. Michael […]
Andrea
Andrea became a C1-C2 quadriplegic following an automobile accident in September 1990. Soon after, she was transferred to the care of Dr. Edward Carter at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research in Houston, Texas. She was implanted with her Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker by Dr. Laurens Pickard at TIRR in April 1991 and has been pacing […]
Sogi
Sogi was born in August 1993 and soon after was diagnosed with Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome, which was managed via mechanical ventilation. In the summer of 2005, Sogi and his family traveled to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles to be implanted with a diaphragm pacing system. His pulmonologist and a surgeon traveled with him […]
Chuck, Pacing Since 1981
Chuck became a C2-C3 quadriplegic in a shooting accident in 1981. He was just 15 years old. Chuck spent the next year of his life at Yale New Haven Hospital under the care of Dr. William Glenn. When Chuck finally returned home on April 1, 1982, he began pacing and has continued pacing 24 hours […]
