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Grant HasseAmerican boy, victim of dangerous congenital diseases.
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- American boy, victim of dangerous congenital diseases
- A Difficult Journey to Survive
- A Challenging Diagnosis Even Before Birth
- A Series of Medical Interventions
- A Risky Birth and Early Interventions
- A Long Path to Recovery
- A Dedicated Doctor and Innovative Solution
- A Miraculous Breakthrough
American boy, victim of dangerous congenital diseases
Grant Hasse, an American boy, was born as a victim of two dangerous congenital diseases. However, with the help of doctors, he was able to overcome both of them. The first disease could have easily killed the baby, while the second one deprived him of the ability to speak. Presently, Grant Hasse is thriving and his speech is gradually improving, serving as a living testament to the miracles that modern medicine can achieve.
A Difficult Journey to Survive
Grant Hasse came into the world already suffering from two very dangerous conditions. One of them could have rendered him unable to speak, while the other posed a mortal threat. Nevertheless, Hasse managed to survive, defying the first threat, and now he is steadily progressing towards finally being able to speak. The doctors had to put in a great deal of effort to bring the boy to his current situation, but the results were undoubtedly worth the effort.
A Challenging Diagnosis Even Before Birth
Even before Grant's birth, doctors knew that he would face tremendous difficulties. His upper airways were completely blocked, making it impossible for him to breathe. The doctors immediately began planning the appropriate surgery. However, even with timely implementation, the chances of survival were not very high. In Grant's case, it was quite difficult to talk about chances and probabilities. His "fatal" condition was already rare, and the nearly complete absence of vocal cords made it even rarer.
A Series of Medical Interventions
The doctors became alarmed after a routine ultrasound examination revealed a problem. At first glance, the issue seemed insignificant – the baby's lungs were remarkably well-developed. Upon closer examination, it became clear that the problem was not the baby's abnormally fast growth; after all, Grant still had five months left until his birth. The cartilaginous mass was blocking Grant's upper airways, causing his lungs to swell significantly. This news greatly surprised Andrea Hasse, who was already mentally prepared for the birth of her first child. The situation worsened further when they learned that Grant's chances of survival were estimated at only 1-3%.
A Risky Birth and Early Interventions
In such a dire situation, Andrea had no other options but to cling to the possibility, however slim it may be. Giving birth naturally in such circumstances was quite dangerous, and at a certain point, the doctors decided to perform a cesarean section. Grant was born at 27 weeks, weighing less than 1.5 kilograms. Alongside the cesarean section, the doctors also performed the first surgical operation, which largely determined Grant's future – he would have to continue communicating with doctors for a long time.
A Long Path to Recovery
The doctors began by inserting a special tube into Grant's airway, creating a system of artificial lung ventilation below the blocked area. Connected to the machine, the baby spent four months in the hospital before being sent home, although disconnecting him from the machine was still not an option. Grant needed additional surgeries, but it was too early to perform them – he needed to gain strength first. The operation to clear his throat took place later when Grant was already a year old. Suddenly, the doctors discovered a new problem – Grant's vocal apparatus was severely underdeveloped, and he had no vocal cords.
A Dedicated Doctor and Innovative Solution
Dr. Glenn Green, who had previously encountered similar situations and attempted to solve them, was assigned to Grant's case. He had previously restored airways for children whose vocal apparatus had been damaged using special tubes. Grant's problem seemed much more serious, but Dr. Green decided not to give up. He set himself an ambitious goal – to restore Grant's vocal cords using tissues from Grant himself as the starting material. Accomplishing this turned out to be quite challenging, requiring two complex surgeries, the last of which was performed in July 2014. The doctors created makeshift vocal cords from nearby muscles and used a fragment of Grant's rib to separate them. After the procedures, the homemade vocal cords were able to vibrate just like real ones.
A Miraculous Breakthrough
A speech therapist taught Grant how to move his lips correctly and control the airflow to create sounds. After one of their sessions, the boy suddenly began to speak, although his speech was not fully understandable at first. He pronounced individual letters and syllables, which was a significant breakthrough compared to the overall situation. The parents were astonished by what had happened, while Grant behaved calmly, not revealing the magnitude of his achievement. Currently, Grant's vocabulary consists of about a dozen words, such as "mom," "dad," and "Peppa."
