Beyond Grateful: Neuro-Ophthalmologist Solves Mysterious Case

Quana O’Bryan, age 39, was at her wit’s end. Feeling as sick she did, how could she continue to live her life as a mother, partner, and share-ride driver? She was experiencing double vision, imbalance, dizziness, changes in sensation in her arms and legs, hearing loss, and difficulty walking. It seemed that there was no relief in sight. Several medical specialists were perplexed by her symptoms.

 

Quana’s Despair

 

“The first time I saw Quana was in my hospital clinic,” said Neuro-ophthalmologist Aileen A. Antonio, MD, Trinity Health Hauenstein Neurosciences in Grand Rapids.

At that point, Quana was depressed and had lost hope. She was sobbing because she felt like she was 70 years old and wondered how she could ever live her life.

“I was in a ‘sweet spot’ to uncover her diagnosis because when I first saw her, some test results had come in, and I could spend time with her and look at her symptoms globally,” Dr. Antonio shared.

As a neuro-ophthalmologist, Dr. Antonio likens her job to that of a crime scene investigator. She looks at all the details of a patient’s medical history, including lab tests and neuroimaging, and listens intently to the evolution of her patient’s symptoms. But she also looked beyond Quana’s eye symptoms.

“I admitted Quana to the hospital for further evaluation,” said Dr. Antonio. “Through a process of elimination, I was able to identify her condition — central nervous system demyelination due to an adverse effect from her medication for Crohn’s disease — which is very rare.”

This devastating side effect was affecting Quana’s brain and spinal cord.

Hope Restored

“I told her we would try our best, but there were no guarantees,” said Dr. Antonio. “While in the hospital, we stopped Quana’s Crohn’s medication, and we helped her learn how to make the lifestyle changes for her Crohn’s disease. Her treatment for her new symptoms included high-dose steroids and plasma exchanges to remove the antibodies in her blood that were attacking her central nervous system. By the second treatment, she was feeling so much better. She was a different person.”

After completing a full series of plasma exchanges, Quana’s life was transformed. And the good news? It appears that the adverse effect on her brain and spinal cord may be reversible.

“I feel great. I’m working again, but I’m looking for a remote job,” Quana shared.

Dr. Antonio continues to monitor Quana’s condition every few months with follow-up visit and MRIs. She also emphasizes the importance of a team approach for patients like Quana. If there is flareup of her Crohn’s disease, the teams will modify and coordinate her care.

Quana’s Letter*

What follows is the letter Quana sent to everyone she could remember (the entire team) who cared for her while at Trinity Health Grand Rapids. She tried to leave no one out!

To the Trinity Health Hauenstein Neuroscience Care Team,

As I prepare to check out of Suite H317 at the beautiful “Hotel Hauenstein,” I leave filled with true thankfulness! The care that I have received during my stay from May 22 until June 5 has been amazing, and I believe in thanking those who contributed to my success.

The team of doctors, nurses, nurse externs, patient care advocates, phlebotomists, nutrition services, environmental services, plasma exchange nurses, and administration have played a role, and I’ve received the best, most compassionate care during my stay.

My only child celebrated her 19th birthday while I was here, and it meant so much for the nurses on this floor to be excited for her and tell her Happy Birthday. Moments like that MATTER, and we’ll always have that memory to share.

I remember the night my nurse Kelsey Poll took the time to calm me down after a powerful dream by listening to me, providing tea, and setting a timer to follow up and check on me. That mean so much to me.

I think about the EEG tech Peter Abol who brought me graham crackers and milk, and he took the time to chat with during what I’m sure was a busy day for him, and to speak a bit about Africa.

There are so many people to thank…

Patrick Redmond was my phlebotomist at a plasma donation facility before I came to Hauenstein, and then he was my nurse here while undergoing plasma exchange. Talk about a full circle moment!

Dana Van Dyke, my lovely nurse who was able to approve my IV coming out so I could have an IV-FREE Saturday night because she knew it was giving me anxiety. I was able to fully rub my arms and shower without being worried about hitting the IV. It felt like a small gift THAT Mattered!

Kenzie Daughtery, who let me know there’s NO SODIUM broth on this floor (and they don’t even have that in the cafeteria downstairs.) Thanks, Kenzie!!

Eric Doorn, the PCA who, on my first day here, wheeled me ALL THE WAY to the Lacks 5 Atrium and Healing Garden, having never been there himself. He told me he’s now taken a few other patients up since. That is truly joyful because it really is a beautiful space and a nice retreat away from the unit.

The nurse who offered to bring me warm blankets, and never actually brought them. We laughed about it later when she checked back to see if I ever got them. Thanks for checking back.

I think about:

Loronda Hines, the phlebotomist who is SO good that I didn’t feel the poke, not one time.

Nurse Jessica Campbell, who showed me pictures of her Queen Kitty Luna.

Nurse Allison Malone, who provided some people’s last names for me.

Laurie Host, health unit coordinator for H3, for printing this letter for me.

The universe put me in THIS specific Suite H317 because every morning, I get to say hi to the building directly across the street where the amazing Dr. Aileen Antonio hugged, and then admitted me for treatment. Dr. Antonio was a vessel who helped save my life. She showed so much compassion. I don’t know what I would have done without her.

Below is a list of the names of more people who cared for me. If I have missed you, please attribute it to my head, and not my heart. I am in the neuro unit, after all!

With true thankfulness,

Quana O’Bryan

*Trinity Health Grand Rapids thanks Quana for allowing us to share this letter about her care.

To learn more about our neuroscience services, visit trinityhealthmichigan.org/neuro  

Trinity Health Grand Rapids thanks Quana for allowing us to share this letter about her care. If you or a loved one had exceptional care at Trinity Health, you can share your gratitude here.