Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/287250
August 2009 bravamagazine.com 1 © 2013 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. CH-38021-13 Unable to swallow food, and barely w a t e r f o r t h a t m a t t e r, 14 - ye a r - o l d Lydia Morrison was diagnosed with esophageal achalasia. So serious was h e r c o n d i t i o n t h a t L yd i a l o s t m o r e t h a n 2 0 p e r c e n t o f h e r b o d y m a s s . In desperate need of a complicated surgery to alleviate her life-altering a i l m e n t , h e r p a r e n t s i m m e d i a t e l y turned to the surgeons a t U W H e a l t h a n d t h e A m e r i c a n F a m i l y Children's H o s p i t a l i n M a d i s o n , W i s c o n s i n . A specialist in pediatric laparoscopic surgical techniques, Dr. Daniel Ostlie p e r f o r m e d a m i n i m a l l y i n v a s i v e p r o c e d u r e u s i n g a t i n y c a m e ra a n d i n s t r u m e n t s i n s e r t e d t h r o u g h incisions measuring less than 5mm in length. This technique allows patients to spend less time in the hospital and heal faster, with barely noticeable s c a r r i n g a f t e r w a r d . I n f a c t , L y d i a spent just one day in the hospital and left with four small Band-Aids over her incisions. Best of all, she was back to playing soccer in no time. Remarkable. Two-hour surgery. Four tiny incisions. One happy Lydia.