Pray for Michelle Malkin’s Daughter
I have had the privilege of having dinner with Michelle Malkin and her family, and her children are wonderful. That made it especially heartbreaking to read this about her daughter Veronica, who turns 15 this week:
Just before Mother’s Day weekend, however, she started having what appeared to be respiratory trouble. She “couldn’t get a good breath” and began gently gasping and sighing for air every few minutes. Two trips to the ER later, she had been administered ibuprofen for “costochondritis” and then albuterol to open up her airways.
The problem is that all the various tests and exams indicate she’s getting plenty of oxygen. Her lungs, heart and vocal cords are all “normal,” and yet she describes a chronic feeling that she’s “drowning.” Every day begins with gasping beyond her control, multiple times a minute, nonstop, every hour of every day, until she reaches a point of exhaustion at 1 or 2 in the morning.
After a brief respite while sleeping, the day-mare starts all over again.
They don’t know what is wrong, but it seems to be getting worse, and sounds very scary.
There are pictures of Michelle’s daughter at the link; she is beautiful and looks quite a bit like my own daughter, who is roughly the same age. Michelle says: “Through it all, Veronica has not cried or raged or lost her will.” Michelle admits that she can’t say the same for herself, and I can’t either, after reading the piece last night. Happy Birthday to Veronica, and courage to her and her family. We will pray for you.
And here I was stressed out about far less important things going on in my life.
Patterico (3cc0c1) — 6/17/2015 @ 7:43 amhere is a thread on this
one of the commenters points here which seems to fit what’s described above
happyfeet (a037ad) — 6/17/2015 @ 7:57 amGive her oxygen. I have difficulty in the mountains, even though my oxygen levels are good, but it helps.
And it’s simple!
Patricia (5fc097) — 6/17/2015 @ 8:27 amFirst met M.M. at Gathering of Eagles 1.
mg (31009b) — 6/17/2015 @ 8:58 amGreat American. Hope this all works out for her daughter. Can’t imagine.
As a person with severe emphysema and COPD and who just did 13 out of 22 days at Abington Hospital Pulmonary Care, I empathize. I use 4 ltr. of constant oxygen, Symbicourt, Ventolin and a nebulizer 4 times a day with ipratropium bromide and albuterol sulfate. It’s a bitch. I have consultations at Temple Lung for lung reduction surgery but I got to qualify. So far it looks promising. I hope they find what is wrong because that constant feeling of imminent suffocation really, really sucks. Good luck Veronica.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/17/2015 @ 9:03 amgood luck Mr. Hoagie
happyfeet (a037ad) — 6/17/2015 @ 9:16 amClearly, being able to get a correct diagnosis for her is the key. I hope whatever the problem is they are able to find its name and its root cause quickly so Veronica can be treated for it effectively and feel better soon. The not knowing what they are dealing with has to be the scariest part for all the Malkins and especially for Veronica right now.
With respect to getting breath: Serious singers, especially opera singers, know how to breathe differently and efficiently- using the muscles of their diaphragms to fill their lungs and not move their shoulders at all — rather than our normal day to day shallow chest breathing that uses higher muscles and raises the shoulders when we yawn or when we are gasping for breath after a long run. It has probably already been suggested but I wonder if, (as they figure out the diagnosis) as a temporary salve, her trying diaphragm breathing would make any difference in Veronica’s comfort.
If anybody is interested in seeing this, watch this you tube clip which shows diaphragmatic breathing in action. Nathan Gunn, the singer at right is handsome, ripped and shirtless –so at about the 1:33 mark in closeup you can really see him breathe. And you can at the same time listen to the most beautiful male duet in all of opera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3xyp54bZqs
elissa (5f9307) — 6/17/2015 @ 9:19 amThanks, happyfeet but I’m kinda lucky especially compared to little Veronica. They know what’s wrong with me they just need to decide if I’m too broken to save or to try and cut out the emphysema and allow my lungs to work. That poor kid could have anything from an organism to mesothelioma. Not knowing is the scary part.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/17/2015 @ 10:06 amYa now elissa, I almost clicked on your link. Then I saw “the most beautiful male duet in all of opera” and decided having just trasracialized I could not in good faith attempt a transsexual opera experience at this time. Thanks for tryin’, I’ll catch you latter.
I’m still trying not to hate you white crackers, imagine my dilemma if you’re all homophobes too!
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/17/2015 @ 10:11 amI’m also praying for Veronica, MM, and their family.
felipe (56556d) — 6/17/2015 @ 10:22 amOh, it’s not trans-sexual Rev. The dudes are very much dudes and are definitely arguing over who gets the girl.
elissa (5f9307) — 6/17/2015 @ 10:40 amIn the opera they’re arguing over who gets the girl. In real life they’re arguing over who is the girl, elissa.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/17/2015 @ 10:46 amDon’t give me the vapors now honey, I’ll go all Dolezal on you and get “complex”.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/17/2015 @ 10:48 amI wonder, do they have Veronica on oxygen currently? I realize I look ridiculous sitting here with a plastic tube in my nostril but hell, I can breathe.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/17/2015 @ 10:50 amActually, no, Rev. Hoagie. Nathan Gunn is hetero, married and has at least five children. I guess you are trying to be funny? But this started out as a serious thread about a young woman who can’t breathe and I posted this because I genuinely thought diaphragm breathing might help Veronica. I thought that some people here who may be unfamiliar with it might be interested in seeing what it actually looks like. Can we stop messin’ now?
elissa (5f9307) — 6/17/2015 @ 11:01 amStrange story but – this happened to a friend of mine who was on my junior high soccer team. The physician at the Mayo clinic actually had treated him for years an one day, bought him a clarinet and wrote a prescription to join the marching band. Won some awards as a trumpet player and went on to a full ride at some nice college.
EPWJ (ab5d02) — 6/17/2015 @ 11:15 amSorry, elissa. I was trying to lighten up a heavy subject. Sometimes I do forget that trying to take the gravity out of a subject, while making my problem a tad better, can bother others and seem shallow. It still is a serious thread about a young woman who can’t breathe and I appreciate that more than you’ll know. Sorry.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/17/2015 @ 11:51 amOK Hoagie. We’re good. Threads here often meander, include snark, and get off track, and I am as guilty as the next person. It just feels like this particular subject does not warrant or justify that today.
elissa (5f9307) — 6/17/2015 @ 12:41 pma hoagie is a sammich what has many tasty carbs
happyfeet (a037ad) — 6/17/2015 @ 12:58 pmI don’t know if the Malkin family will ever see my comment. I doubt they need my opinion as much as they need prayers, but I want to offer both. Our family has been on a similar medical journey with our children, and we learned things that I hope will help others in similar situations.
Our children have a rare medical disorder that took 17 years to diagnose, and frankly we were blessed they were diagnosed at all. During those 17 years, we went to doctors, clinics, and hospitals across the United States — including seeing 55 different doctors with one child in one very difficult year. Our children’s lives were bleak until they were diagnosed and the doctors were able to develop a treatment plan. For many of the those years, they were homebound and in bed.
We learned a lot about rare medical issues with our chronically ill children. We learned not all doctors are able to handle rare medical issues (called orphan diseases), although most think they can, so you may have to consult many doctors. Not all doctors will admit they don’t know what is wrong or what to do, and some doctors will even get mad at you and your child if your child doesn’t improve under their care. My experience is the best doctors will admit they don’t know what is going on and are open to input from patients and their parents. So while I would encourage you to trust the doctors, also trust your instincts because no one knows your child as well as you do.
Ultimately, what worked for our children is getting to the NIH because they specialize in figuring out rare and orphan diseases, but it’s not easy to get there. I recommend going to a highly regarded or specialty hospital, not only because their doctors see a wide range of sick kids and are more likely to recognize your child’s problem, but also because the NIH is more likely to consider a referral from those doctors. I like the Mayo Clinic because its team approach to diagnosis avoids labeling patients without a full evaluation. It’s easy to get incorrectly diagnosed as a neuro patient or a gastro patient, etc., when that may be incorrect with rare diseases. Once you’re labeled, it’s very hard to start over in another field. National Jewish in Denver would also be high on my list because of its experience with respiratory diseases.
Best wishes for a quick and happy outcome, and hang in there.
DRJ (e80d46) — 6/17/2015 @ 1:08 pmAlso, never ask for a second opinion. To doctors, that is the same as asking whether the first doctor made a mistake. Medicine is an art as much as science, so few doctors are willing to say another doctor made a mistake — even if they disagree with what the first doctor did. Instead, ask doctors what they would do if it were their child.
DRJ (e80d46) — 6/17/2015 @ 1:21 pmMrs. Malkin’s daughter Veronica will he in my prayers. I hope God’s grace finds her and doctors can treat her and enable a full recovery.
njrob (7699f9) — 6/17/2015 @ 2:00 pmI can’t imagine being in DRJ or Mrs. Malkin’s position of not knowing what is wrong. That’s gotta be scary. They’re in my prayers.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/17/2015 @ 2:10 pmThank you, Hoagie. I agree not knowing makes it more difficult. We’re blessed we found out what’s wrong. As you know, medical issues can be very challenging when there isn’t a cure or clear treatment, but it’s better than feeling completely helpless. I hope the Malkins can find answers, too.
DRJ (e80d46) — 6/17/2015 @ 2:42 pmYour dedication to the well being of your child speaks volumes to your character, DRJ. 55 doctors in a year? My wife was sobbing just having me see two doctors in a day. I can’t imagine.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/17/2015 @ 2:55 pmlink
He moves in mysterious ways.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 6/17/2015 @ 3:12 pmRev.BHH and DRJ
mg (31009b) — 6/17/2015 @ 3:19 pmYou are strong,brave and loving.
Not to suggest that I have special insights, knowledge, or anything, but a paperbag to breath in might help, couldn’t hurt.
There’s this cartoon where Yosemite Sam is playing a Civil War Colonel, and Bugs Bunny hobbles up to the mansion and announces the bad word, “They Yankees have Chattanooga”. Faints away collapses into Col Sam’s arms.
Normally Yosemite Sam and Bugs Bunny are cool to the touch enemies, but he takes one look at him and yells back to the house,
“Martha come quick! It’s one of our boys.”
Then he draws sword vowing vengeance on whomever injured the rabbit.
That’s where I am at with regard to MM’s children’s illness, and her missing cousin.
You want to do something, but I’ll be dammed if I can think of what.
papertiger (c2d6da) — 6/17/2015 @ 3:38 pmIf no one mentioned already, COPD, asthma, pneumonia, can all cause shortness of breath with perfectly good sats.
SarahW (6f3980) — 6/17/2015 @ 3:54 pmSurely the family have been in touch with National Jewish in Denver one of the great pulmonary hospitals in this
ruth s (af3373) — 6/17/2015 @ 8:32 pmcountry; if not, be sure to do so and find out who exactly to see there. The situation should be presented as urgent.
I am able to slough off sooooo much with ease. More than a few wonder if I have any empathy about anything. Every once in awhile, something really gets to me. Veronica’s illness and Michelle’s fear has done just that.
Please, God. I am unworthy to even ask, but I am. Hold these people in your arms and give them peace. Amen.
Ed from SFV (3400a5) — 6/18/2015 @ 1:19 amFifteen-year old girl with an Asian nose. There’s a slim chance that the attention from her parents, including putting it all over the internet, will “cure” her “condition”. It’s more likely that she will “require rhinoplasty to raise the bridge of the nose and relieve the pathways”, i.e. a European nose.
Which medical condition is cured with breast enhancements?
nk (9faaca) — 6/18/2015 @ 4:42 amAnd is a necessary medical procedure that health insurance will pay for, and not elective cosmetic surgery that it will not?
nk (9faaca) — 6/18/2015 @ 4:45 amwho’s martha
happyfeet (831175) — 6/18/2015 @ 4:55 amErectile dysfunction.
Rev. Barack Hussein Hoagie (f4eb27) — 6/18/2015 @ 5:11 amA married man was suffering from erectile dysfunction. His wife consulted the family physician. He wrote her a prescription for the V-pill for her husband. Then he took a second look at her, tore up the first prescription, and wrote her a prescription for diet pills for herself.
nk (9faaca) — 6/18/2015 @ 5:15 amA small FWIW, Children’s in Philly (“CHOP”) I believe has a “diagnosis clinic”, a multi-specialty group designed to diagnose such oddities. I am sure it is not the only one.
The general medical wisdom is that a common ailment will present in an unusual way more often than an uncommon ailment in a usual way. But even if that is true 99% of the time, 1 % of the time it isn’t. And as an old mentor of mine used to say, if you are the one afflicted with the 1% thing, for you it is 100%.
I do think medicine is often like a lot in our culture in thinking we know so much now that we didn’t know before that we don’t realize how much we don’t know.
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 6/18/2015 @ 6:57 amDAMN, that is scary. Thoughts and prayers.
JEA (fb1111) — 6/18/2015 @ 7:39 am