Posted on 01/03/2005 12:53:42 PM PST by lindor
Milwaukee, Wis. (12/30/2004) - 15-year-old Jeanna Giese garnered worldwide media attention in November when doctors at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin announced the teen had cleared the rabies virus from her system and was on the road to recovery, making her the first person in the world to survive the disease without receiving a vaccination after infection. The Fond du Lac, Wis., teen's journey will enter the final phase Saturday, Jan. 1, when she is discharged from Children's Hospital and returns home for the first time since Oct. 16.
In recent weeks, Jeanna has worked to regain weight, strength and coordination. At home, she will continue a rigorous course of speech, physical and occupational therapy.
"We still have a long road ahead of us," Ann Giese said. "Jeanna does not yet look or sound entirely like she used to, but she has come tremendously far and her progress continues. We're looking forward to being home together. We haven't had a chance to celebrate Christmas yet as a family, and having Jeanna home with us is the best gift we could have wished for."
John Giese added, "Throughout Jeanna's illness and recovery, we've been blessed with a tremendous outpouring of prayers and support from our friends, family, community and strangers around the world, not to mention the skill and care of Jeanna's doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital. So many people cared for her in so many ways that we'll never be able to thank them enough."
Jeanna Giese contracted rabies from an infected bat Sept. 12 and was admitted to Children's Hospital on Oct. 18. Her survival and recovery are due to a new treatment protocol developed through the collaborative efforts of her care team. A combination of drugs was used to protect her nervous system while her natural immunity caught up to eradicate the rabies virus. Although the effects of the illness - which attacks the nervous system - and the protective coma still are evident, tests conducted within the past few weeks leave Willoughby optimistic for a nearly full recovery with continued therapy.
"Medically, Jeanna is sound," Willoughby said. "On her MRI scans, there is slight evidence of her past rabies, as well as evidence for ongoing repair of her brain two months later. The MRI findings are mild enough to not be clinically important. We expect Jeanna will continue to refine her speech and coordination through therapy. She has had some extra movements that are subsiding. She's lost a lot of weight, muscle mass and flexibility that she needs to regain. We truly won't know whether her recovery is full until she shows us where her progress stops -- there's no limit currently. Intellectually, she can certainly go to back to high school and pick up where she left off."
In the coming weeks, the new treatment protocol pioneered by Willoughby and his colleagues will be scrutinized through peer review for journal publication. Because the drugs used are common and readily available, Willoughby is hopeful that the treatment will have a significant impact in developing nations where rabies infection is much more common than in the United States. Already, Children's Hospital physicians are considering application of similar techniques in the treatment of other illnesses that affect the nervous system.
Is rabies the same as cooties?
I'm sure you must know this hospital. I had heard this story today and it should make treatment so much easier for so many in the future.
Exactly the same. Except for the dying part and all.
Did you read the story or just stop by to make an ass of yourself?
yeah I heard by the time she went in it was too late for the routine serious of shots so she had this new procedure.......this should be a lesson to teach kids to report immed. if you are bit by any wild animal......boy, especially a bat........whoa.....
This could lead to treatments for other conditions that affect the nervous system too.
She still has damage, although whether it is permanent or not remains to be seen. She has to relearn a lot of basic behaviors still, and the muscle coordination isn't there from what I've seen.
She still has damage, although whether it is permanent or not remains to be seen. She has to relearn a lot of basic behaviors still, and the muscle coordination isn't there from what I've seen.
A prolonged coma is some pretty tough therapy, but it beats dead. I'll take the shots, please.
"Willoughby is hopeful that the treatment will have a significant impact in developing nations where rabies infection is much more common "
Somehow I doubt developing nations have the personnel and facilities to provide the intensive therapy needed after this treament.
Pardon me, but is this girl now the only human on the planet immune to rabies?
I think the actual discovery is that many may have the immunity if it can be spurred on. Like one poster stated though, the shots involve less risk but of course they have to be given early and that was not her situation.
No, I don't think she's the only one immune to the disease. Veterinarians and wildlife officials take the rabies vaccine to protect them, or so I have heard.
Yes, but having had it - she can't get it again, right? Like measles.
Wouldn't she be immune naturally now if her body has antibodies to the disease? I'll bet she's getting all the free exams she can stand *LOL*
Yes, indeedy, she IS getting far more medical attention than she may like.
I will say one thing: It is hell to be an "interesting patient."
Unbelievable
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