Since my last post, I have been happily buried in publication projects both at home and work. My son's two year photo book is now finished! I carefully selected and edited each of the 65 pages of photos and printed via
Picaboo. When my books arrived, I discovered that I had to re-edit and re-print due to a glitch in the newest Picaboo software (some images were improperly zoomed, resulting in faces being cut in half). It was a hassle to have to return to the project that I thought finished, but Picaboo was good to work with and I am very happy with the final result. Sometimes extra time with a publication is all for the good.
My work newsletter will be familiar to regular readers.
This issue marks three years of publication for
The Laboratorian, and it’s funny how important public health projects come back around. One year ago, my editorial focused on the Laboratory Newborn Screening (NBS) program, highlighting how we continue to work on “
Improving Health Outcomes for Children”. Our NBS Laboratory—already the largest testing volume NBS program in the world—is adding another test to the current panel of 28 disorders. In 2011, we received 741,650 specimens, which is about 62,000 per month or 2,456 per work day. With the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) to the screening panel in Fall 2012, each newborn in Texas will be screened twice for 29 disorders. For more details, read the article on “
SCID Coming Soon to Texas Newborn Screening Panel”. As our laboratory works toward this goal, we remember baby Cameron. For Cameron, newborn screening for SCID didn't come quite soon enought. (See below for "Why Newborn Screening Matters...")
I regularly lead Laboratory tours for new employees. Without question, the most visually interesting stop is the Parasitology Laboratory where
various organisms are displayed in conjunction with fascinating stories by Team Lead Cathy Snider. Read the article on “Chagas Disease and Laboratory Diagnosis” to join in our show and tell.
Each year the Laboratory’s Emergency Preparedness Branch opens its doors to host Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) Training for members of the Laboratory Response Network. Read the article on "BSL-3 Students Learn to Work Safely" to understand the stringent training—from personal protective equipment to emergency procedures—needed to work in a BSL-3 laboratory. Despite my fascination with virology and this kind of high-security laboratory, I’m content to forego this as a tour stop. Here in the Laboratory, we take safety seriously.
Why Newborn Screening Matters...
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| Cameron and his older brother |
Cameron was discharged from the hospital as a normal, healthy newborn. Indeed, as the months went by, he was in the 90th percentile for height and weight, with no problems other than the ear infections that bother so many babies. But after getting tubes in his ears at seven months— just like his older brother, Gavin— Cameron developed cold symptoms that wouldn’t go away.
In February, 2011, he was hospitalized for pneumonia. But with his condition worsening, he was transferred one week later to a specialty hospital for advanced care. Within hours of his arrival, doctors induced coma to stop what appeared to be seizures. His mother, Jennifer, said, “We would not get to hold Cameron in our arms again for over four weeks, until the last moments of his life.”
During those heart-wrenching weeks, Cameron endured CAT scans, MRIs, EEGs, spinal taps, blood transfusions, massive doses of antibiotics, antiviral agents, antifungal agents and other medications. He was treated by critical care providers, pediatricians, neurologists, epileptologists, toxicologists, immunologists, infectious disease physicians and respiratory therapists.
After ten interminable days, Cameron was diagnosed with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID), also known as “bubble boy disease.” In effect, he had no working immune system. Like many infants with SCID, Cameron’s family had no history of the disease. Moreover, Cameron exhibited none of the most common symptoms, such as failure to thrive.
(also known as the Kindle Basic) and from $199 to $159 for the Kindle Fire 7", LCD Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB
(the original Kindle Fire).
. Even though I will miss the easy keyboard access and the audio capabilities, I'm excited by the rest of the improvements in the Paperwhite. 
. If you contact me after purchase, I will also keep your information and email you a free copy of Dormant after publication.
