Health & Fitness
How a Missing LEGO Saved a Little Boy's Life
A family thought their son swallowed a toy. What doctors found instead was a rare cancer, leading to a miraculous and life-saving recovery.
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A routine visit to the emergency room for a suspected swallowed toy took an unexpected turn for 3-year-old Michael Geary and his family, leading to a life-saving diagnosis and a testament to the power of specialized pediatric care.
It began with subtle signs: a loss of appetite and expressions of pain from a child who, being on the autism spectrum, was largely non-verbal. After initial visits to their pediatrician and dentist yielded no answers, Michael's parents, Allison and Mike, brought him to the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, fearing he had ingested a small LEGO piece.
While an x-ray showed no toy, the sharp eye of pediatric radiologist Michael T. McGuire, M.D., revealed a concerning mass near Michael's stomach. This pivotal discovery led to a diagnosis of neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. A dedicated team was immediately assembled, with pediatric surgeon Keith Kuenzler, M.D., leading a complex, minimally invasive surgery to remove the tumor.
The family's story is not just one of medical success, but also of compassionate, individualized care. From the emergency room staff's sensitivity to Michael's special needs to the thoughtful comforts provided during his stay, every detail was considered. "It was as good an experience as it could be," said Allison.
Discover how a "rockstar" surgeon and a "miraculous" diagnosis from a skilled radiologist at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital gave a little boy his future back, all starting with a trip for a missing LEGO.
Click to read this incredible story.
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