Amazing Patient Stories : Preethi Davis was born in India with a rare and complex congenital abnormality in which her reproductive, urological, and gastrointestinal systems were combined into a single opening. She underwent multiple surgeries and treatments in India, and while her doctors did the best they could, they were unsuccessful. Ultimately, Preethi’s parents were unable to care for her, and placed her in an orphanage for children with no hope. Shawna Davis, a successful young designer from Hoboken, New Jersey, frequently traveled to India on business. During one of her trips, she had the opportunity to visit the orphanage and meet Preethi, who was then four years old. Preethi lived in very poor conditions at the orphanage and spoke no English. Shawna instantly connected with Preethi and wanted desperately to help her. After doing much research, she found Dix Poppas, MD, Chief of the Institute for Pediatric Urology at the Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children’s Health of NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell. Resolved to do whatever she could to save Preethi, Shawna was able to obtain all of her medical records and shared them with Dr. Poppas, who developed a surgical plan to do a major reconstruction of Preethi’s anatomy. Shawna adopted Preethi and brought her to New York. Now, three years later, and after multiple successful surgeries, Preethi, who is 7, speaks English, goes to school, and is doing extremely well! She will need some additional surgery in the future, but the worst is behind her and she can expect to live a normal, happy life with a very special and incredible Mom.
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