Seventeen year-old Austin, TX, resident Katelyn Sesny is passionate about
soccer. In the early summer of 2016, she noticed an ache and throbbing under
her collar bone. By the end of September, her left hand and fingers were
turning purple and going numb. Katelyn’s mom, Kelly, mentioned Katelyn’s
symptoms to their family physician at a game. Two days later, Katelyn and
her mom were in the doctor’s office and the physician decided to refer her to
specialists for further evaluation. Katelyn’s symptoms worsened. Katelyn’s
father mentioned this to his brother, Scott Sesney, DC, a chiropractor in Ohio.
Katelyn’s uncle believed she may have thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).
KATELYN SESNY’S STORY
The family discussed this with Katelyn’s physician and a
local chiropractor who agreed that she needed to be seen for
treatment. Two weeks later, after participating in a high
ropes course, her symptoms became extreme with pain moving
from her fingers to her elbow to her shoulder. An MRI
showed her subclavian artery had 95 percent blockage.
Katelyn was immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
at a local children’s hospital in the Austin, Texas area. A vascular
surgeon there told her that she needed a specialized surgery as soon as
possible and recommended the family speak with a vascular surgeon
at Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital.
After consulting with a vascular surgeon at Baylor Hamilton Heart and
Vascular Hospital, Katelyn underwent the special TOS surgery, also
known as “First Rib” surgery. During surgery, it was discovered that
Katelyn had a genetic defect and was born with her first and second ribs
fused together. The fused ribs were compressing her subclavian artery,
causing the blockage. The ribs were removed. The surgeon also found
that there were many clots throughout her arm and worked carefully to
remove them. Her subclavian artery healed perfectly, said her mom.
A second surgery occurred in two weeks to remove additional clots from the
initial blockage. Not long after, Katelyn developed symptoms on the other side so
she returned for a third surgery to remove the first and second ribs on her right
side. “During the first visit with (the vascular surgeon), he told us that I would
probably have to have the ribs removed on my right side, so another surgery
wasn’t a complete surprise,” says Katelyn. “I’m glad everything happened so
quickly so that I could get everything resolved and it didn’t drag out over years.”
Her surgeon at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital cautioned her to
ease back into playing soccer. However, Katelyn’s hiatus from soccer was much
shorter than originally expected and her mom considers her recovery complete.
“She’s such a strong person,” Kelly says of her daughter. “She never
complained. We love Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital,”
says Kelly, “ it is the best place to go because they have the expertise and
know what they’re doing. It’s really the best hospital I’ve ever been in.
Everyone went above and beyond. They are genuine and caring.”
59