Abby Bauleke, hailing from Savage, Minnesota, has made an indelible mark on the world of athletics. Once a young child battling leukemia and later paralyzed from the waist down, she defied the odds and became a two-time paralympic medalist. Her story is one of resilience and determination.

From Leukemia to Paralympic Glory - Abby Bauleke's Inspiring Story

Basketball: A Game that Transformed Her Life

Abby Bauleke vividly recalls how basketball changed her life. "Basketball has been a game-changer for me," she said. "It gave me a purpose and a sense of normalcy even in the face of adversity. Adapted athletics became my new passion, and basketball was at the heart of it all." She started playing basketball after completing her chemotherapy treatment and was initially skeptical about its possibilities. But with time and dedication, she became a force to be reckoned with.Her team's achievements in Tokyo and Paris are a testament to her skills and determination. "Winning those medals was a dream come true," she added. "It showed me that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and work hard."

Medical Journey: From Leukemia to Paralysis

Bauleke's medical journey began when she was just four years old and diagnosed with leukemia. The initial months of chemotherapy were tough, but she showed remarkable strength. However, a few months into the treatment, she was paralyzed from the waist down. This was a major setback, but it didn't deter her. "Even when I was paralyzed, I never gave up on my dreams," she said. "I knew that I could still do something great with my life."She found solace in swimming and later discovered adapted athletics, which led her to basketball. Her story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.

Supporting Cancer Research: A Family's Legacy

Bauleke's aunt, Gail Dennison, who works at the Hormel Institute, has been a constant source of support. "She's always been an advocate for us," Dennison explained. "Even when she was a little girl, she knew the importance of fighting for a cause." The Hormel Institute has now established a dedicated children's research fund in honor of Karl Potach, who died from pediatric cancer.Dr. Chares Day, a senior scientist at the Hormel Institute, is working on pediatric brain tumors in conjunction with neurosurgeons and oncologists at Mayo Clinic. "Every gift, no matter how small, can make a difference," he said. "We are making progress, but there is still a long way to go."Bauleke hopes that the funding from this research will help other kids like her. "The more research that is done, the more hope there is for a better future," she said. "I want to be a role model for other kids and show them that they can overcome anything."The Hormel Institute is one of the organizations that benefits from funds raised at the Fifth District Eagles Cancer Telethon. As always, if there's a Kid With Courage Caitlin should know about, email her at kidswithcourage@kttc.com.Find stories like this and more in our apps.Copyright 2024 KTTC. All rights reserved.

Hospitalizations of young children because of accidental cannabis ingestion have been on the rise not only in Michigan but across the country. From 2020 to 2022, more than 400 kids under 6 in Michigan were taken to the emergency department due to marijuana ingestion. Around 80 of them were admitted to critical care units. This increase comes after the establishment of legal recreational dispensaries in Michigan. Experts point out that some of the marijuana edibles sold at these dispensaries resemble candy in both appearance and taste but contain highly potent doses of THC.

Impact on Children's Health

Some children arrive at the ER seemingly in a coma. Others face difficulties in breathing, and in rare cases, they need to be intubated. Their heart rates may become dangerously slow or beat incredibly fast. Some are limp and unresponsive, while others alternate between intense drowsiness and agitation. ER doctors often hear from parents that they have no clue what is happening. It is only after extensive workups, including CT scans that expose children to radiation, to rule out other conditions that the lab results show positive for THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. "These kids present in a potentially extremely sick state and truly require all our resuscitative efforts to save their lives," said Dr. Erica Michiels, an emergency medicine physician and the chair of pediatrics at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. "This was something I didn't witness before marijuana was legalized in Michigan."

Comparison with Other States

Michigan is one of several states experiencing a significant surge in the hospitalization of kids under 6 due to unintentionally ingesting dangerous levels of cannabis after legalization. The reason is that these marijuana products often look and taste like common candies, cookies, and chocolate. Moreover, the products themselves are now much more potent than in the past, making it easier for small children to quickly consume potentially toxic amounts of THC. "Many of the packages look like a regular package of gummy bears that a child is familiar with opening and eating the whole package," Michiels said. "This can lead to a massive overdose in a very young child."

Increase in Hospitalizations

In the first two full years since legal recreational marijuana dispensaries opened in Michigan, there was a 74% increase in reports of cannabis ingestions among children under 6, according to the Michigan Poison and Drug Information Center. More than 400 of these kids went to the emergency department, and over 230 were hospitalized, with about 80 kids admitted to critical care units. However, this is likely an undercount as not all hospitals report pediatric cannabis ingestions to poison control. Nationally, between 2017 and 2021, the number of kids under 6 experiencing unintentional cannabis exposure soared by more than 1,000%. In 2021 alone, there were more than 3,000 such exposures, along with a "significant increase in the severity of acute toxicity" resulting in more critical care admissions and hospitalizations across the board. "The potency has increased in many cases with these small doses," said Varun Vohra, director and clinical toxicologist at the Poison and Drug Information Center at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. "So, it doesn't take a large amount to reach the 'toxic threshold.' It could be a child who is extremely drowsy for a long time, not behaving normally, or not eating or drinking. In the worst-case scenario, they may lose their airway due to severe respiratory depression and have seizures."

Medical Treatment and Outcomes

Most children only need some time for the effects to subside. With proper fluids and monitoring to ensure their breathing remains stable, they usually recover well. But an increasing number of children require intensive care, and some may need to stay in the hospital for several days. "I would say that children can die from this if they don't receive medical support," Michiels said. "Most parents would reasonably think, 'Wow, I had no idea this could be so serious. I will take all my marijuana and lock it up because I never want this to happen to my child.' But I believe many people are unaware that a marijuana ingestion can be this serious."