Routine Dental Check-Up Could Save 11 Year Old Girl’s Life
A quick and simple routine dental appointment could prove to be life-saving for an 11 year old girl from Oklahoma. Journee Woodward was having her teeth cleaned by her dental hygienist when the hygienist noticed that the whites of her eyes looked an abnormal shade of yellow.
On spotting the signs, the dental hygienist asked dentist Dr Michael Chandler to have a look and he agreed that the 11-year old’s eyes did appear to be yellow. The dentist advised Journee’s mother, Anna, to take her to the doctor and a CAT scan and MRI scan were ordered.
The scans revealed large masses on Journee’s liver and pancreas and further tests confirmed that they were tumours. She was admitted to hospital and surgery was carried out immediately.
After the operation, which involved removing some of the pancreas, gall bladder, stomach and intestine, Journee spent around 7 days in intensive care. Journee’s mother said that it was a very distressing and difficult time, especially as it had happened very quickly and came completely out of the blue. On Monday, the bubbly and happy 11-year old was simply going to the dentist for a cleaning treatment and just 4 days later, she was undergoing complex surgery and fighting for her life.
The family set up a fundraising page on You Caring and it had already raised $5,000 after a week. Mrs Woodward has been updating the page to keep people informed of Journee’s condition and she has been overwhelmed by people’s kind words and donations.
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