Stephanie Kuleba was an 18-year-old high school senior who had a reaction to anesthesia as she underwent breast surgery to correct an inverted nipple and uneven breasts. The type of fatal reaction to the anesthesia she most likely suffered from was malignant hyperthermia, a rather uncommon metabolic state that can be triggered by certain anesthesia. When that type of reaction occurs within a body, the heart rate and metabolism of the patient can rise up to 112 degrees.
In 1996 my own daughter, then 10, underwent surgery to remove her tonsils and during surgery, she was given anesthesia as well as morphine. The surgery was anything but normal procedure as Amber woke up as they were removing her tonsils, so they put her back under by using more anesthesia.
After she was knocked out, once more the surgery continued, uneventfully. However, she woke up in the recovery room and a nurse came out to get me, so that I could enter this recovery ward to calm my daughter.
I did not know exactly what to expect as I walked into that recovery room, but there lay my daughter who seemed so small, pale, and sickly. She was far from quiet or peaceful and most all of the other patients were awake as well. Those patients were awake because my own daughter was screaming I want my mommy at the top of her lungs.
I tried talking with my daughter to calm her but this did not work, so I tried something that soothed her when she was young. As I began to sing to her, she settled down on the bed, and soon drifted off. It is funny now, looking back, I was not even embarrassed to sing in front of strangers because I was doing something to soothe my daughter, the best way I could.
My daughter had a reaction to the anesthesia or perhaps it was to the morphine. Either way she had a rough time of recovery, and had to stay over in the hospital for a few nights to recover. I do know that when she was screaming in the recovery room she damaged the area where the doctors had removed her tonsils, which caused bleeding. She swallowed the blood as she slept as I sang to her, which upset her stomach, which made her vomit later that night.
In 1996 my own daughter, then 10, underwent surgery to remove her tonsils and during surgery, she was given anesthesia as well as morphine. The surgery was anything but normal procedure as Amber woke up as they were removing her tonsils, so they put her back under by using more anesthesia.
After she was knocked out, once more the surgery continued, uneventfully. However, she woke up in the recovery room and a nurse came out to get me, so that I could enter this recovery ward to calm my daughter.
I did not know exactly what to expect as I walked into that recovery room, but there lay my daughter who seemed so small, pale, and sickly. She was far from quiet or peaceful and most all of the other patients were awake as well. Those patients were awake because my own daughter was screaming I want my mommy at the top of her lungs.
I tried talking with my daughter to calm her but this did not work, so I tried something that soothed her when she was young. As I began to sing to her, she settled down on the bed, and soon drifted off. It is funny now, looking back, I was not even embarrassed to sing in front of strangers because I was doing something to soothe my daughter, the best way I could.
My daughter had a reaction to the anesthesia or perhaps it was to the morphine. Either way she had a rough time of recovery, and had to stay over in the hospital for a few nights to recover. I do know that when she was screaming in the recovery room she damaged the area where the doctors had removed her tonsils, which caused bleeding. She swallowed the blood as she slept as I sang to her, which upset her stomach, which made her vomit later that night.
Comments
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/692489/stephanie_kuleba_web_site_a_beautiful.html
another article about Stephanie I wrote about the beautiful web site created for her.
ripstephbabyy
(Guest)
(Guest)
04/03/2008
www.stephaniejudekuleba.org
from malaysia
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/31/2008
just type in stephanie jude kuleba
remslm63
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/31/2008
Words cannot describe what a horrible tragedy this must be for the family and friends of stephanie. I have had many medical problems over the past 10 years and believe me I'm fearful everytime I have to go into surgery. I have been on some medications that know I feel blessed that I survived. The public needs to have their eyes wide open with the medical tragedies we face today. There are far many good doctors out there than bad ones, but unfortunately there is bad ones. God bless the Kuleba's and their family and friends. I was trying to find the website they setup but cannot find it, if anyone has it could you please post it. Thank you.
This is really sad. My heart goes out to her family and friends.
I am so sad for this family. Surgery should never be undertaken lightly and sometimes things happen that are just not expected. So sad. Also can agree with LeslieRN . I worked for thirty years in a pediatric unit and kids react very differently from adults to surgery, anesthesia, and just about everything. Always bring children to a facility with pediatric specialists on staff. They are trained to handle circumstances particular to children.
RIP Steph, if you would drop me a line via the contact link above we can talk, and perhaps I can help you get the real story out to the media.
rip steph i love you
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/26/2008
P.S.
Thank God EVERY night that your daughter is alive and ok. Cherish every moment you have with her!
rip steph i love you
(Guest)
(Guest)
03/26/2008
I'm one of her good friends, & the news doesn't describe even a quarter of the pain we're all going through right now. The was no doubt she was the nicest girl, not a mean girl in her body. You'd expect a blonde, skinny, pretty captain of the cheerleading squad, to be mean or not give ppl the time of day. Nope, not steph, she was always there to talk and calm people down in practice, the sweetest girl. Steph always went all out trying to make everyone happy and anyone around her just smiled bc she was there. It's been raining everyday since she passed in south florida, just like the tears we've all been constantly shedding, and just like her mother said, God bless her, the sun finally came out yesterday and that symbolized Steph reaching heaven. Steph we love you and you will NEVER be forgotten. Rest in peace girl. GO BULLS!
thnaks for your article. please take a look at m ine.
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