MrBee's story - The Impossible Miracle

[KL Aguilar]

In response to Mark's question, I did meet Willie although I did not get a chance to talk to him.

[mmglobal]

Willie, I was able to give your books to doctor's Brau, Regan, Zeegers. I was taken aback by the intensity of their replies. All were so pleased to hear my account of how well you are doing... All were so pleased to have been involved in helping you on your journey. All were amazed at your recovery and as I showed them the pictures in the book of your CT-Angio... they were shaking their heads... "it doesn't happen like that."

I won't try to recount their exact words as I don't want to get it wrong. I hope they'll express themselves for your website.

I have to tell part of the story as it relates to Dr. Brau. There was a serendipitous meeting that I still find amazing. To set it up... you were the first person I ever traveled with for surgery. At the time, we thought that I was just going to be a traveling companion. I don't think either of us realized what was in store for us. When I left you were in Stenum, I went directly to Chicago for the NASS meeting. (North American Spine Society.) The first day of the conference, I was standing in an atrium talking to your brother on my cell phone. Even though I was thousands of miles from you, I was still embroiled in your situation... hoping to find some answers for you. Someone grabbed my elbow and said... "Mark, do you remember me? We met in Vienna last May." (at the spine arthroplasty convention). It was Sal Brau, one of the leading vascular / ADR access surgeons in the US. Willie was trying to deal with his severe vascular complication and information was tough to come by.

I asked Dr. Brau if he'd sit down and listen. I had Willie's imaging on my computer. I told him what was going on and showed him the CT-A. Dr. Brau reached into his briefcase and pulled out three papers he'd written, including one titled, "Left Iliac Artery Thrombosis during Anterior Lumbar Surgery" - the exact problem that Willie was living through. While Dr. Brau never became one of Willie's treating physicians, over the next few months, he always made himself available to answer questions via email or phone. We spent many hours discussing your case. His explanations of the info we were getting and recommendations about other specialists were absolutely priceless.

As we talked about your book, I Dr. Brau if he realized how serendipitous our meeting was and how amazing it was that such a chance connection via Vienna and Chicago, would be so important to Willie. "Absolutely", was his reply.

The same holds true for Zeegers and Bertagnoli... all through your ordeal, they were asking about you and sharing their time freely to discuss your case, options, etc... It still warms my heart when 4 years later... they still ask about you, even though you were never their patient.

It was great to see you and Darla again. We've spent a lot of time together, but I'd not gotten to know her yet... what a great evening it was!

Take care... all the best,

Mark

[mmglobal]

I spent the day with Willie yesterday. We went to tape a TV program for a Christian network that will have a feature segment about his ordeal and healing. It won't air for a few months... we'll keep everyone posted. His book is getting a lot of attention even though it will not be on the shelves until next month.

We all know about his ordeal with the complications related to his ADR surgery and the complications following his revision. I don't know if those who know him from the online patient community realize that those 2 surgeries were the 4th and 5th spine surgeries that he'd had in a 10 month period. It was pretty amazing to watch as Willie laid out the story for the interviewer. It still hits me hard to hear it. While I was behind him, I could see that the interviewer was wiping away tears at a couple of places in the interview.

It's always so good to spend some time with Willie... he's doing great. He's such an inspiration.

All the best,

Mark