Nick Hessa
In October of 2007, 16-year-old Nick Hessa began to suffer from headaches and
was noticeably pale. At first Claudia, his mom, told him to take Tylenol to relieve the
pain. When the headaches persisted for a full week, they decided it was time to go to their
doctor.
Through testing the doctor found that Nick’s headaches were caused by anemia
due to bleeding in his intestines. Shortly after, Nick was diagnosed with Blue Rubber
Blood Bleb Nevis Syndrome (BRBNS).
This condition is so rare that in the entire world there are only roughly 150
diagnosed cases of BRBNS. BRBNS is a malformation of veins that shows itself as
lesions that can occur on a person’s skin, making them outwardly visible, and in the
gastrointestinal tract which leads to the bleeding that Nick experienced.
People who have this rare disorder have extreme fatigue and require blood
transfusions to give them energy and replace the blood that is lost.
During the month of December, 2007, Nick was given blood transfusions biweekly at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center until his surgery was performed on February 18, 2008.
In many cases, patients with BRBNS will need transfusions for the rest of their
lives. Nick Hessa was very fortunate to only have 8 lesions in his intestines and no
outwardly visible signs of the condition.
Nick’s surgery, which took place in Iowa City, cleared him of all signs of
BRBNS.
Claudia is thankful that Nick, now a senior at Sioux City North High School, has
always been a good student. Due to the extreme fatigue and time spent getting
transfusions, Nick missed about two months of school. Activities that Nick enjoyed like
playing basketball with his friends were also put on hold while his condition persisted.
Nick is back to how he was before October of 2007. He is ready for his senior
year and is a member of the North High School Golf team. Doctors have told him that he
should be free from the effects of BRBNS permanently.
Before Nick’s headaches began and before his diagnosis of BRBNS, Nick had
never before needed blood transfusions. He is thankful for the people who donate their
time and blood to the Siouxland Community Blood Bank and make the product available
for people like himself that need this life-saving gift.
People who give of themselves through their time and donations allow the
Siouxland Community Blood Bank to supply blood to area hospitals like St. Luke’s who
then give the product directly to the patients.
There will always be patients who need blood due to surgeries and accidents, just
as there will always be patients like Nick who will need blood unexpectedly. Nick and
Claudia Hessa’s story is one of many stories that make us remember why we give blood.
Who will your blood save?
