|
A Champion Across America
McGowen
(second from left) and his parents (from left), Tom and Carol, join McGowen’s youth pastor, Randy Moore, and Gov. Rick Perry for the
official “champion” award presentation.
At fourteen years old, Chase McGowen seems like the typical teenager.
He hangs out with his friends at church and school, rides his bike and
is active in extra-curricular clubs. Yet as the first person in Texas
and one of fewer than 20 in the world to receive a double lung-liver
transplant, McGowen is anything but typical.
Inspired by his strength and courage, Children’s Miracle Network has
named McGowen one of the 50 Champions Across America. He is the first
“champion” to be selected from Texas Children’s Hospital.
In November 2005, Governor Rick Perry surprised McGowen with the
official announcement during a pep rally at McNeil High School,
McGowen’s school in Austin, Texas.
Children’s Miracle Network Champions Across America, presented by
CO-OP Network, recognizes 50 children from across the United States as
ambassadors for the more than 17 million children treated each year at
the 170 Children’s Miracle Network affiliated hospitals.
Born with various lung problems, McGowen was diagnosed with cystic
fibrosis at 2˝ years old. His parents, Tom and Carol, brought him to
Texas Children’s Hospital, home to a national “Center of Excellence”
for cystic fibrosis care as accredited by the United States Cystic
Fibrosis Foundation.
Affecting almost 30,000 people in the U.S., cystic fibrosis is a
genetic disease that causes the lungs to clog with mucus, leading to
life-threatening infections and damage to other organs.
According to George B. Mallory, Jr., M.D., director of the Texas
Children’s lung transplant program, McGowen’s case was unusually
severe, virtually destroying both of his lungs and his liver by age
13. He needed new organs to survive.
After 8˝ agonizing months of waiting, a single donor was finally
found.
McGowen’s successful double transplant made medical history, and the
night following his surgery, nurses removed his breathing tube.
“Chase kept mouthing ‘I’m so happy. I’m so happy. I got new lungs,’”
said Mallory.
For the first time in 20 months, McGowen could breathe on his own.
“This surgery required a concentration of resources, skills and
commitment that is unusual to find in a single place,” Mallory said,
describing the surgical team that included E. Dean McKenzie, M.D.,
associate surgeon of Congenital Heart Surgery and the lead lung
transplant surgeon, and John Goss, M.D., lead liver transplant
surgeon. Texas Children’s is home to the region’s largest
multidisciplinary pediatric lung and liver programs.
In addition to physician teamwork, Mallory said their success also
resulted from the strength and support of the McGowen family. “I
believe in team care, and the family is part of the team,” he said.
“They are advocates for their loved one.”
As one of the Champions Across America, McGowen will help show the
tremendous impact the nation’s pediatric hospitals are making in the
lives of millions of children like him. In March 2006, he will travel
with the other champions to Washington, D.C., at the invitation of The
White House, to share his inspiring story. He also will take part in
the national television production of the Children’s Miracle Network
Champions Across America Celebration at Walt Disney World, and
locally, he will participate in numerous events with Children’s
Miracle Network sponsors.
“It amazes all of us how Chase never lost hope, even when his illness
was at its worst, he was constantly struggling to breathe, and he was
waiting for months on the organ transplant list,” said McGowen’s
mother, Carol. “Even I had times when I was angry and questioned why
this would happen to a child, but Chase never complained and never
looked for anyone to blame. He is a true champion to all of us.”
After the surprise presentation, McGowen (center) answered questions
from various Texas media, including representatives from Austin
television stations KVUE-TV and KEYE-TV, as well as from the Austin
American Statesman and the San Antonio Express News.
|