Johns Hopkins Appointment Update

You have probably been wondering about the latest on Luke’s surgery. We finally have an update for you! Luke was seen by Dr. Dietz at Johns Hopkins on June 1, 2010. Dr. Dietz will send his ok for surgery to the Houston Shriners Hospital and stressed that the sooner Luke has this procedure the better it will be for him. Dr. Dietz did not want any more time to pass because of Luke’s age. (Note: The surgery will be more difficult the longer we wait because Luke’s bones are naturally calcifying as he ages.)

Dr. Dietz requested that we have Luke genetically tested for Marfan Syndrome because Luke exhibits so many of the characteristics of the disorder. Dr. Dietz does not want to make an inaccurate decision as to whether or not Luke has a check up every year versus every two years. He said Luke is “growing into his aneurysm.” Dr. Dietz said he has seen this before, but because of Luke’s symptoms his aneurysm could change at any time. Dr. Dietz stressed to us that we should not consider Luke to be out of the woods yet.

We will not find out the genetic testing results for several weeks. In the meantime, Luke is still on the waiting list for the surgery on his sternum at the Houston Shriners Hospital.

I appreciate all of you and the support you have shown to our family and to The Luke Pier Foundation,

Vikki

Shriner's Hospital Evaluation

The following is an update on Luke's appointment at the Houston, Texas Shriner's Hospital for Children:

Luke has pectus excavatum (sunken chest). Many people live with this, never needing surgery. In the past year, Luke’s chest has become increasingly worse and now affects his breathing and causes pain. Dr. Dietz, the doctor that monitors his heart at the Johns Hopkins genetic clinic, referred Luke to a thoracic doctor in order to correct the pectus excavatum.

After being examined at the thoracic doctor’s office we were informed that Luke’s pectus excavatum was severe and he needed corrective surgery. We were sent home to have Luke’s CT scan, pulmonary heart function test performed and to raise the needed funds for the surgery.

We immediately began brainstorming the most effective ways to raise the funds needed for this surgery. In the meantime, I also applied to the Shriners Hospital for Children. We were initially denied help at the Shriners because of Luke’s heart aneurysm. I then reapplied, along with a letter from Luke's doctor at Johns Hopkins stating that Luke’s aneurysm was “slow growing” and that Dr. Dietz was referring Luke for this pectus surgery.

Not every Shriners Hospital performs pectus excavatum surgery so we ended up being accepted at the Houston Shriners Hospital. We met with the surgeon on March 18th, and he informed us that Luke's pectus excavatum was "unique", meaning the Nuss procedure (the less evasive surgery/the one I was fighting for him to have) would not be enough for Luke. The Nuss procedure would place a bar through an incision in both sides of Luke's torso and push the sternum out. He would have had to keep the bar in place for 2 to 4 years. Due to the fact that Luke's sternum is twisted almost 45 degrees, the Nuss procedure would not correct all of the problems.

Instead, the procedure Luke will have performed will open him across the front, going under muscle to realign his ribs and straighten the sternum in the process. The "normal" patient with this type of surgery typically has 3 ribs realigned, but again Luke's case is "unique" and requires the realignment of approximately 5 ribs. Luke will also have approximately 2 plates to hold everything in place. His surgeon expects a successful surgery that will improve Luke's quality of life.

Luke will be scheduled for surgery in a few months and we will be sure to keep you updated on his progress.

Thank you!

Quick Update on Luke

Due to the recent passing of Luke's older brother, LCpl Noah Pier - Marjah, Afghanistan, we have not been able to update you on Luke's progress. Please know that we will be back online soon with some exciting fundraisers and events to share with you. As always, thank you so much for your support - especially during this difficult time.

We do have a quick update to share at this time, though. Luke is being evaluated by the Shriner's Hospital on March 18th. We are uncertain what the future holds because Shriners Hospitals for Children initially denied Luke. We are excited that they have reconsidered due to the slow growth of his aneurysm. March 18th is the first step to begin the evaluation process.

We have a few prayer requests:

1. Please pray that the Shriner's Hospital will agree to perform Luke's Nuss procedure.


2. Please pray for the Pier family as we grieve the loss of Noah, our hero.


3. Please pray that 2010 will be a great year for The Luke Pier Foundation as we continue our mission: "to provide funding for life-saving scientific research focusing on, but not limited to, connective tissue disorders. We are also committed to help provide funding and encouragement to individuals for medical treatment they may not otherwise receive due to limited resources or lack of health insurance."

We will update you as soon as we know more! Thank you for your support!

In His Own Words

Luke wanted to talk about his imminent surgery and tell you what it's like to be in his shoes. We sat down and talked with him earlier this week, & this is what he had to say.

“At first I wanted the surgery for my looks, but now I want it because it feels like I am closing up, like I’m breathing through a tube that’s shrinking. I watch everyone run around and I see how they last longer with their breathing. I have to stop before them and catch up with my breathing. I feel frustrated and less than I can be. I have more energy but I can’t go further, I have limits because I have to catch up with my breathing. I don’t like having limits.”

When asked what his sunken chest feels like, Luke responded, “It hurts! I thought at first that it hurt everyone to run. When people finish running they can take a deep breath. I can’t. It’s like I can’t take enough of a deep breath, but instead I cough it out. Every time I try to take a deep breath, after I’m running, I go to breathe air into my lungs but my lungs are tightening. It blows air out really quickly, and I have to sit down to catch up. Now even when I do little things my breathing feels like my chest is closing in and my lungs are being stopped by my chest.

It’s like my lungs are being pushed, like you put a balloon in a jar and when you blow it up to a certain point you can not blow it up any more until you let the air out and blow again. My chest is the jar and my lungs are the balloon. Sometimes I’m not able to take a deep breath. It feels like I am slowly dying, something slowly is happening and I am getting worse and worse. I know I am not going to die, but that’s what it feels like sometimes.

I can do more, but my chest is holding me back. I feel like I’m less of being myself - that I can go further. I try to make my breathing not noticeable. I try to hide it. I don’t want people to think of me as weak.

I wish people could feel like I do so they would understand. I have so much energy inside of me but my breathing is holding me back. I am never able to go as far as I know I can – my breathing stops me, and I feel like I will bust.”

In his own words.

Support Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Research

Special thanks to Maya Brown-Zimmerman for allowing us to republish her blog post below. Maya has been volunteering with the National Marfan Foundation since she was 14 years old. Currently she serves as a teen program coordinator for the NMF and local group leader. She also works with the Coalition for Heritable Disorders of the Connective Tissue. Maya was first suspected of having Marfan when she was 8 years old, and that diagnosis was confirmed by genetic testing at age 21, after she was also tested for Loeys-Dietz and vascular Ehlers-Danlos. She loves playing with her toddler son and spending time with her husband, Mark.

Support Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Research

Today I write on behalf of my friends with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a disorder related to Marfan syndrome. There are multiple types of EDS (affecting 1.3 million people worldwide) and NONE have real treatments available to them, let alone cures. One of the most serious of these, vascular-EDS, is particularly close to my heart.

At the end of my freshman year of college, during a routine exam, my geneticist said he was SURE I had vascular-EDS. He was reluctant to give me any details about the illness until I threatened to go home and Google it myself.

He was hesitant because vascular-EDS is a death sentence. With vascular-EDS, aneurysms develop anywhere in the body and organs can spontaneously rupture. There is no way to predict when this will happen, nothing to do to prevent it. The average life-expectancy is in the mid 40s. Children have died from just doing a cannonball into the pool.

However, hope is on the horizon, and that’s where YOU come in. The Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Network has been named a finalist in Chase bank’s Community Giving Challenge. They are up for a $100,000 prize. What would this money do for the foundation? Well, Dr. Hal Dietz has designed a “mouse model” of Marfan syndrome (basically, mice with Marfan). Our mice have dramatically increased doctors’ knowledge of Marfan syndrome, such that we now have an average life expectancy. $100,000 would be enough money for Dr. Dietz to begin work on a vascular-EDS mouse model.

Go here to vote for the EDSN!!! Then, tell all your friends!

Below, please read what Dr. Dietz has to say:

“Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (or vascular EDS) is a disorder of the body’s connective tissue – the material between the cells that give the tissues form and strength. In vascular EDS the body lacks sufficient type III collagen, a molecule that contributes to the strength of the skin, intestines, uterus, and most importantly, the blood vessels. People with vascular EDS live with the knowledge that they will die from this condition at an age ranging from childhood to young adulthood. They are also told that there are no effective treatments. There are no medications that are known to strengthen the tissues or delay blood vessel rupture. Attempts at surgical repair are often delayed there is confidence that the patient will die within hours if nothing is tried. This is because the tissues are so weak that they often simply fall apart during surgery – akin to trying to sew together wet tissue paper. Of all the conditions that I care for, I hate this one the most. It not only drastically shortens the length of life, but also robs people of any meaningful sense of hope and quality of life – always anticipating that the shoe will drop at any moment. Indeed, all too often children with vascular EDS lose any sense of ambition and purpose despite truly remarkable talents and potential. To their mind, “Why bother.”

Fortunately, there is now strong reason for hope…It is now our goal and intention to make mouse models of vascular EDS in order to learn more about the condition and to test this and other therapies. If someone had suggested 5 years ago that a pill might be able to treat a connective tissue disorder, I would have considered them crazy. Given recent breakthroughs and sufficient resources for further research, I will be shocked if a revolutionary new treatment for vascular EDS is not in general use within 5 years. I have already begun to share this sense of optimism with children with vascular EDS. Our job is to bring this goal to fruition. Their job is to begin dreaming big.”

Harry (Hal) Dietz, MD
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Institute of Genetic Medicine

From The Beginning

Hello All!

My name is Vikki Pier and I am Luke’s mother. I have decided to try my hand at blogging in order to keep you updated with Luke’s progress, needs, and who knows - this may be therapeutic!

Luke is the 7th of my 10 children. He has always been tall, thin, energetic, tender hearted, mechanically minded and extremely flexible. An orthopedic doctor Luke was once seeing, because of pain in his joints and dislocations, called him “rubber band man”.

In February 2007 I took Luke to a cardiologist because he was complaining of heart pain. The pain was so great at times it would stop him in his tracks. Even with this pain I never dreamed Luke had any problem with his heart. Instead I believed the cardiologist would refer us to a doctor that would correct his sunken chest. During this visit we learned Luke had an enlarged aortic root and a possible connective tissue disorder.

After my initial shock and fear I began researching in order to make sure Luke received the best care possible. I discovered that one of the best alternatives for Luke to have, when surgery was needed, was the valve sparing procedure. This operation is not done at very many hospitals and the few I found would not accept us because of insurance reasons. Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD did welcome us into their genetic clinic and Luke has been seen there since 2007.

Luke’s aneurysm, at this time, is “slow growing”. As of his last visit in June 2009 he has been referred to an orthopedic doctor at Johns Hopkins in order to have surgery on his chest. The doctor said Luke needs this surgery because the progression of his chest deformity has been great and it is now interfering with his breathing. The doctor said it would be best to perform it now because of his age. He would perform the Nuss Procedure costing approximately $70,000. This figure includes the doctor and hospital fee.

Here I go again – I am not in shock and I am not fearful – overwhelmed and desperate is a better description. I am overwhelmed at the prospect of raising $70,000.00 and desperate to do just that. We (The Luke Pier Foundation) must raise this money! Luke does not have a choice; this procedure is not for cosmetic purposes. I contacted the Shriners Hospitals for Children and they have denied Luke because of his aneurysm and there is no insurance to pay for this.

The doctor and hospital at Johns Hopkins will work with us but we must raise the money for Luke’s surgery. Please pray for The Luke Pier Foundation as we brain storm our next fundraiser. Yes, I am overwhelmed, but I will not continue in that state because Luke needs my help. I have chosen to believe that the funds will be raised and Luke will receive this needed surgery.

• Proverbs 3:5 & 6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
• Jeremiah 32:27 Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

That should get you caught up on where we are today. I will continue blogging as we navigate through this journey. Feel free to post your questions and I will try to answer them in future posts.

Vikki

A New Approach

We at The Luke Pier Foundation have decided to take a new approach with our blog. Our first "new" post will be later this week, so check back soon! You will hear from us much more often. The focus of the blog will be less about the fundraisers (We'll still talk about those, though! It's why we're here!) and more about the journey.

We'll ask for your feedback along the way, so be ready to ask questions and participate in the conversation.

Thank you, as always, for your support these last three years (can you believe it's been three years already?). And we look forward to sharing the journey with you even more in 2010.

Update on Luke

It has been a busy spring and early summer for all of us at The Luke Pier Foundation. We finished the softball tournament in May and are happy to announce that we raised over $2,000.00 for our cause! Thank you to all of our supporters and teams. And a special thank-you to our sponsors, Community One Bank, Piedmont Natural Gas and Boatsman, Gillmore & Associates!

Luke had another appointment at Johns Hopkins a couple of weeks ago. He received good news about the aortic aneurysm (dilated aortic root) - it is still a good size for his body size and age! They want to continue monitoring him, of course, but he is okay for the time being.

Luke will need a different kind of surgery within the next 12 months, though. He will return to Johns Hopkins to undergo the Nuss procedure. Some people who have connective tissue disorders also develop pectus excavatum (or sunken chest). They want to perform the operation on Luke before he gets much older. Because he is still young (he's 15 now), his bones are still pliable and will adapt to the operation much better than if they were to postpone it. We are thrilled that he will have the opportunity to fix his chest and cannot wait to see the results. We will let everyone know more as the surgery gets closer.

We will be working on the plans for our next fundraiser in the coming weeks. If you have any ideas about fundraisers that you think would be successful and draw a crowd, please leave a comment or send an email to info@thelukepierfoundation.org.

As always, thank you for your support!

Luke's Next Appointment

Many of you readers like to follow Luke's progress & hear the latest news on his condition, so we wanted to let you know when his next appointment at Johns Hopkins is scheduled for.

Luke will have another echocardiogram on June 23, 2009, to monitor the aneurysm. Immediately following that appointment, he will have a routine exam at the genetics clinic as well.

Please pray for the doctors' wisdom as well as for Luke's condition.

We also wanted to mention that we have our 3rd annual softball tournament coming up on May 2, 2009! We are really excited about this event and will post more information very soon!

Luke's Visit

Luke had his appointment this morning, & the doctor gave us encouraging news.

The aneurysm has changed, but it is not changing rapidly. We had hoped for a miracle, of course, but this is still good news!

They will see Luke again in one year, so he will not have another trip up to Johns Hopkins until 2009. In the meantime, they have instructed him to keep "doing what he's doing" (no weightlifting, heavy lifting or strenuous activity) & they will examine him again in a year.

>>>We want to take this opportunity to remind you of how important the medical research is to help patients like Luke. Our mission is an important one, & we need your help before we can help others. Please consider donating today!

Follow-Up Appointment

Luke and his mom, Vikki, are on their way to Johns Hopkins now for a follow-up appointment, thanks to Children's Flight of Hope.

This appointment will help the doctors determine whether or not his aneurysm is growing, changing or staying the same.

Check back tomorrow for an update on the results of this follow-up appointment!

Thank you!

Matters of the Heart

We recently found this video that was done by the Methodist Hospital & the Kahle family after Tyler Kahle died from an undiagnosed thoracic aortic dissection at the young age of 19.

Luke Pier was fortunate because of his family's persistance that the doctors run more tests than just a basic electrocardiogram (EKG) & blood pressure test - that all came back normal. The insistence that more tests be run is what found Luke's aortic aneurysm, so this story really hit home for us.

• CLICK HERE to view the video about Tyler Kahle's story. It is approximately 20 minutes long, but it will really shed some light on aortic dissection and the importance of being diagnosed as early as possible.


• You can also CLICK HERE to read more about this story & the genetic studies Tyler's death prompted.


• In addition to the video & the Methodist Hospital website, here is a compilation of Pulitzer Prize-winning articles by two Wall Street Journal writers titled "Deadly Discrepancy: New Light on Aortic Aneurysms".

We encourage you to educate yourself on the signs & symptoms or aortic dissection!