Written by a student admitted to the 6 year medical program.
Every day I wonder how my parents came to their decision. Personally, I don't know how I would react to the news that my child, a 5-pound, 8-ounce bundle of joy, may have a neurodevelopmental disorder.
They tried everything to correct it: growth hormone injections, shots, blood tests - you name it. Continuous testing played a major role in the first few months of my life. While some doctors believed that I would slowly begin to develop, others suggested more extreme measures like surgery and the placement of a feeding tube. My parents ultimately disagreed with these options. Thankfully, their choice worked out in the long run. But the fact that people are forced to guess on the best option for their loved one's survival has always left me aghast. This ambiguity in treatment options is the problem I intend to solve in my career.
My story is not unique. This problem affects multiple conditions. At a Relay for Life event, I listened as the father of a 3-year-old neuroblastoma survivor recounted his horror at a similar dilemma. He had to agonize over the decision of letting his son bleed or allowing the doctors to drain the fluid when he began hemorrhaging into his abdomen. He ultimately chose the latter, and thankfully his little boy survived. But how often will the odds be in parents' favor? And is it humane to force this choice upon them? I realized the severity of this issue after hearing this story, and I was determined to fix it.
In my attempt to find a solution, a few opportunities emerged. While volunteering at the Birthing Center in [state] Hospital, I gained insight on multiple conditions that babies can face. Every shift I learned more about birth complications, procedures and treatments. I was amazed as doctors pinpointed the prematurity of babies not only by their weight, but also by symptoms such as poor muscle tone. By using these methods to correctly diagnose the problem, doctors were able to prescribe the best treatment. Here, I realized that optimal care can only be achieved with the best diagnosis.
Additionally, through a medical internship at [name] Eye Hospital in my parents’ hometown in India, I witnessed the direct impact of medicine and patient care. The hospital is a major non-profit organization that performs thousands of surgeries for underprivileged villagers yearly. Through completing a case study on one of the patients, my perspective on affordable medications broadened. The man who was receiving eye surgery had lost his arm and eyesight in a lumber accident. But because of this free surgery, he was able to work and make a living for his family again. I realized that some things in my own life, like yearly doctor appointments, are a luxury for so many.
My compassion for others drives me to take an active role in medicine. I do it for the greater good of others and not just to prove myself. I want to help others regain their lives. At the [name] Institute of Biomedical Research, I seized the opportunity to help fix the treatment process. I worked specifically on pediatric sleep apnea and aimed to find a cheaper option for diagnosis that a wider audience could access. It is critical that patients are treated promptly, as without proper care, the disease can lead to cardiovascular dysfunction and neurological problems. In my research, I tried to dissect every detail for a specific diagnosis. By figuring out the first symptom and linking it to other problems involving sleep apnea, I was able to accurately diagnose its stage in a pediatric patient. This helped expedite the treatment that these patients sorely needed.
Truth be told, finding the best diagnosis is not always simple; from misdiagnoses due to similar symptoms as ADHD, to confusion among doctors between the stages of pediatric sleep apnea, I've faced many challenges trying to solve this problem. Yet, my optimism has not been deterred.
Through perseverance, I know solutions can be found and the treatment process can be fixed. I wholly believe that one wrong call should not cost parents their chance to see their children grow. My motivation is to create an efficient and cost-effective treatment process, so other families do not have to go through the struggle that mine went through to save me.