PATIENT TO TRAVEL FROM AUSTRALIA TO NEW JERSEY FOR REVOLUTIONARY TREATMENT
Dr. Matthew Kaufman of The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction to Perform Phrenic Nerve Surgery
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(Shrewsbury, NJ- October 10, 2011) -- Don Bird, a 48-year-old handyman and married father of three from Geelong, Victoria, Australia, is preparing to journey to the United States for a groundbreaking procedure—phrenic nerve transplant—to be performed by Dr. Matthew Kaufman of The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction in New Jersey on November 4th. Phrenic nerve transplant is not available in Australia. Dr. Kaufman has pioneered the innovative procedure and is currently the only known surgeon in the country to perform it.
Following a serious bout of pneumonia in August 2010, Don Bird suffered paralysis of his phrenic nerve, a large nerve in the chest that controls the diaphragm, which is integral to breathing. The condition also caused his right lung to deflate and other internal organs to shift, leaving him chronically short of breath and at great risk for recurring pneumonia, infection and inflammation. Without Dr. Kaufman’s surgical intervention, Bird’s lungs will become too scarred and future episodes of pneumonia will be untreatable.
Dr. Kaufman recently completed his 40th phrenic nerve surgery (on a 25-year-old woman from Ohio, his youngest patient to date). The procedure has an 85% success rate in reversing the paralysis. Kaufman feels strongly that Bird is a good candidate for phrenic nerve transplant, which will increase Bird’s lung function and allow him to lead a normal, more active lifestyle. Bird’s wife, Kylie, learned of Dr. Kaufman and his life-saving surgery while researching treatment options for her husband on the Internet.
According to Dr. Matthew Kaufman, “Cases of phrenic nerve paralysis like Don Bird come to The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction from around the country and the
world. I am proud of the fact that our reputation is international, and that I have personally been privileged to make a positive impact on so many people’s lives. Our team of physicians and health care professionals is dedicated to treating individuals with breathing difficulties due to phrenic nerve paralysis, and also offers groundbreaking treatment for many other types of paralysis and nerve injuries.”
Don Bird and his family established the Don Bird Foundation to raise funds toward his trip and treatment (http://www.donbirdfoundation.org.au). Recently, his 13-year-old son, Rylan, and his father-in-law, Ray McNamara, cycled 1000 km from Sydney to Geelong to assist with fundraising efforts.
“I’m so grateful to everyone who has helped me and my family. I am looking forward to the operation, as I have missed out on lots of activities I did prior to this illness and want to return to work as soon as I am able.”
Bird arrives in the U.S. on October 30th and is available for interviews both before and after the surgery, as is Dr. Matthew Kaufman.
Don Bird's trip to the U.S. coincides with a major symposium, Innovative Solutions for Spinal Cord Injury, Paralysis and Neuropathy, featuring renowned Chinese surgeon Dr. Shaocheng Zhang, of Changhai Hospital, Shanghai, making his first visit to the USA, and the physicians of The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction. Information available on their website: http://www.advancedreconstruction.com/?post_type=event&p=1310.
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CONTACT: Gloria Averbuch
Public Relations Director
Jenna Rocca
Public Relations
(973) 998-8008 ext. 104
About the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction
The physicians of the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction are recognized as leaders in the field of nerve reconstruction and plastic reconstructive surgery. They have over fifty years of combined experience, and are among the few nationally and even worldwide to perform a number of pioneering procedures. Their successful team approach to medicine results in the highest possible quality of care, and their reputation for excellence in their field draws patients from around the U.S. and the world. http://www.advancedreconstruction.com/
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