For Lisa and Mikel Whiting, CHOC not only saved their son’s life, but solved an eight-year mystery — allowing him to pursue dreams once thought unattainable. From infancy, Brant Whiting suffered severe asthma that caused asthma attacks every single night of his life. Brant describes the experience as trying to breathe through a straw.
One night, at age 8, Brant stopped breathing altogether and was rushed to a local hospital. Doctors said that Brant’s labs “were incompatible with life” and he might not survive the trip to CHOC in the transport ambulance. But he did, and Dr. Nick Anas, CHOC’s pediatrician-in-chief and his team worked for five hours to keep Brant alive. They succeeded. After six days in a medically induced coma on life support, Brant awoke — and survived.
In fact, not only did he survive, CHOC doctors were able to determine the underlying cause of Brant’s asthma — gastric reflux. He underwent a fundoplication procedure at CHOC, eliminating about 85 percent of his asthma symptoms. This correct diagnosis gave Brant the chance to pursue his dreams: playing professional baseball. He played catcher on Stanford University’s baseball team for four years before being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers. A precious life saved… and a dream fulfilled.
