Brain Surgeon Walks 6 Miles Through Storm To Save Patient

[resolution]

This story seemed really uplifting to me, mixed in with all the stories about the storm and aftermath in the South.

blog.al.com/wire/2014/01/whats_the_big_deal_says_doctor.html#incart_big-photo

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Dr. Zenko Hrynkiw wonders what all the fuss is about.

The doctor who walked six miles in the snow to perform emergency life-saving brain surgery said any good doctor would do it.

"It really wasn't that big of a deal," Hrynkiw said, addressing reporters today at Trinity Medical Center where he is a neurosurgeon.

The publicity shy physician submitted to a news conference Thursday after after the story of his Tuesday walk posted Wednesday on AL.com drew national attention.

Hrynkiw gave details of the 6-mile walk in the snow from one hospital -- Brookwood Medical Center where he was assisting another brain surgeon -- to another, Trinity, dressed in hospital scrubs. The journey included stops to help push stranded motorists stuck in the roadway due to the paralyzing snowstorm and a stop to sit in an ambulance to warm up from the below 20-degree weather.

[sesfw]

He is a very caring man. His patients are very lucky people.

[mmhmm]

I can't say I've known many, but I've known a few like this over the years.  Some people are just exemplary, no matter their occupation.  This man is one of those.

[the flying reindeer]

I saw the interview on CNN and was amazed. He seemed so matter of fact about what he had done. Also amazing was the fact that after the ordeal of getting to the hospital, he was able to perform surgery on his patient to remove a blood clot on the brain. If he hadn't made it to the hospital, the man would have died. Thank goodness there are people like him still in this crazy world of ours.

[Deleted]

What's the big deal?   It's not like he was doing br... oh wait. 

[Deleted]

Does any one remember when stories such as these were more common and with less fanfare. 

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 31, 2014 14:42:28 GMT -5 @jma23 said:

Does any one remember when stories such as these were more common and with less fanfare. 

That's because we didn't have 24/7 worldwide access to media coverage and if it happened we usually just heard about it if it was local/state, etc.

If it happens now someone will tweet, FB, snap pictues and such. Lots of people along the way knew what he was doing so it got reported multiple times before he even made it to the hospital    and then dozen more folks did the above "tweet, etc."

[djAdvocate]

would anyone here have done different?

[Deleted]

Feb 1, 2014 18:43:37 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

would anyone here have done different?

Since it was a matter of life or death, yes I would've done it. But since I don't do cold very well, that's about what it would take for me to walk 6 miles in that kind of weather (sounds close to a version of hell to me)...... I would have to be saving someone's life or something pretty darn close. Does that make me a terrible person?

[djAdvocate]

Feb 1, 2014 19:01:06 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Feb 1, 2014 18:43:37 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

would anyone here have done different?

Since it was a matter of life or death, yes I would've done it. But since I don't do cold very well, that's about what it would take for me to walk 6 miles in that kind of weather (sounds close to a version of hell to me)...... I would have to be saving someone's life or something pretty darn close. Does that make me a terrible person?

nope.  i think i would have done it, as well.

[Deleted]

Feb 1, 2014 18:43:37 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

would anyone here have done different?

I wouldn't. I'm ignorant in the brain repair department. I would of killed the patient.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Feb 1, 2014 18:43:37 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

would anyone here have done different?

Good point.  I can remember walking through thigh deep snow in Boston to get to work.  My car was snowed in, public transportation was nil and I had an experiment going on that I didn't want to lose and cells I had spent months on that I didn't want to die.  I only walked about 3 miles though, but I was soaked when I got in.

I also called everyone else and took care of their immediate work too, since I lived closest to the lab.  I wasn't doing brain surgery.....but it was equally important TO ME.

[djAdvocate]

Feb 3, 2014 11:01:26 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Feb 1, 2014 18:43:37 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

would anyone here have done different?

Good point.  I can remember walking through thigh deep snow in Boston to get to work.  My car was snowed in, public transportation was nil and I had an experiment going on that I didn't want to lose and cells I had spent months on that I didn't want to die.  I only walked about 3 miles though, but I was soaked when I got in.

I also called everyone else and took care of their immediate work too, since I lived closest to the lab.  I wasn't doing brain surgery.....but it was equally important TO ME.

i walked 7 miles home during the loma prieta earthquake.  public transportation was down.  i wore holes through my brand new hungarian loafers. 

[Deleted]

While I'll give him a hat tip for the effort, what else would he have done?  Most of us can throw up our arms as we sit in traffic because the only thing waiting for us is filling out TPS reports.  

If you're a brain surgeon, I think it's understood that you need to get to the hospital when there is an emergency.