CHICAGO, June 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Andrew
Baniecki dreamed of becoming a pilot for as long as he can
remember. His passion for airplanes began when he was a small
child opting to play with toy planes instead of cars, and grew when
he took his first ride on an airplane during a family trip to
Disney World. At 8-years old Baniecki scribbled down on a
piece of paper his dream of becoming an airline pilot and placed it
into a time capsule. Ten years later, Baniecki pulled the
weathered piece of paper out of the capsule reaffirming his desire
to pursue flying professionally. By then however, his dream seemed
out of reach due to health issues he had faced since birth which
caused his bladder to deteriorate over time.
Baniecki suffers from myelomeningocele, otherwise known as spina
bifida, a neurological disease that often leads to incomplete
growth of the spine. It can also cause the spine to stretch,
putting tension on the nerves which ultimately impacts bladder and
bowel function. Growing up, Baniecki battled a hyperactive
bladder and frequent urinary tract infections, endured two
surgeries, and required regular use of a catheter to release his
bladder. He was also on daily medication to help control his
disease, all of which potentially affected his eligibility for a
pilot’s license and significantly impaired his quality of life.
Despite his challenges, Baniecki was determined to make his
dream of flying a reality and searched for answers. That’s when his
doctors at Children’s Memorial Hospital referred him to Northwestern Memorial
Hospital‘s John
Hairston, M.D., one of only a handful of physicians in the
country performing robotic bladder augmentation, a procedure that
could allow Baniecki to stop daily use of medication, and gain
better bladder control.
“When Andrew and
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