About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

A Lifesaver

Bethlehem Township's Board of Commissioners heard from a lifesaver last night. Specifically, they heard from a man who saved my grandson Dat's life thirteen years ago. He looked familiar to me, but I was unable to make the connection in my failing mind until long after the meeting was over.

Dr. Andew Unger was a resident at St. Luke's hospital when my grandson was born. Unfortunately, Dat was born with a perforated intestine, and it was killing him. Emergency surgery on a day-old baby had to be performed, and there was a serious question whether he would even make it through the night. We were told to prepare for the worst, especially after his tiny heart failed.

Dr. Unger spent that entire afternoon and night at Dat's side, monitoring his condition and adjusting his treatment, minute-by-minute. Having made it through the worst, Dat was transported by helicopter to a neonatal unit at Hershey Medical Center, where he spent the next six months of his life.

But for Dr. Unger, Dat would have been dead that night.

I never would have believed it possible, but today, Dat is a gifted athlete. More importantly, he's a great young man.

Unfortunately, my picture of Dr. Unger was one of my throw aways. It's not very good. But I want people to know that there are still people out there who care about their fellow man, even a day old baby.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice tribute

Bernie O'Hare said...

He's a good man. He was invited to Dat's first birthday party, and came. So did Dr. Chang, the surgeon who operated on Dat.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful.

Anonymous said...

He saved my baby's life as well. He is literally a genius. I will forever be indebted to him.

Anonymous said...

Bernie,
What was Andy doing at the meeting? My husband and I are good friends of his. I think the absolute world or him and he is by far one of the greatest most talented doctors in the Lehigh Valley.
Lee Snover

Anonymous said...

Bernie great post, thank you and very glad Dat not only survived but has thrived! Good kid.

The Banker

Bernie O'Hare said...

Lee, Andy is on the Board of the Friends of Johnston.

Anonymous said...

We should pray for all the good physicians like Dr. Unger. It was intelligence applied with sacrifice, perseverence, hard work, and dedication that make physicians like Dr. Unger, and they are being squeezed hard these days by the big corporations and big government. What a blessing, that the lives of your grandson and other infants were saved by this man's skill and knowledge (and the assistance of his team).

Bernie O'Hare said...

Who can ever forget the nurses at St. Luke's? They are wonderful and save lives on their own.

c said...

What a great story!