LPN students learn about bone disease from a five year old
Students in Altamaha Technical College’s Practical Nursing class learn about Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) from special visitor, Cameron McCort, 5, of Jesup. McCort was born with the rare bone disorder, often referred to as Brittle Bone Disease. Cameron McCort, 5, of Jesup inspired students in ATC’s Practical Nursing students with his positive, “free-spirited” outlook on life despite his apparent physical limitations.
JESUP, Ga. (Oct. 24, 2011)—Altamaha Technical College’s Practical Nursing students learned first-hand about musculoskeletal disease from a special little visitor to their Jesup class last month.
Five-year-old Cameron McCort of Jesup was diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), a rare disorder that causes his bones to fracture and break easily. The common term is Brittle Bone disease. McCort has suffered more than 100 breaks in his young life. According to his mother, Katie, an advocate of educating nurses and doctors on the realities of the rare disease, “he was broken before he was even born.”
“We sat on the floor and played with him,” said ATC student Brittney Rice of Jesup. The students gave him a gift of toys and learned the proper way to care and support a child or person with his kind of disorder. His mother showed his x-rays and shared with them their story of raising a young man like Cameron.
“Most babies you can pick up by their arm, but with him you can’t. You have to support him from his bottom and back, and we were shown the proper way to do that,” said Rice.
Rice, 23, a Wayne County High School graduate, was surprised by his positive, can-do attitude despite his apparent physical limitations. She said she’d never met anyone like him, and was glad she received this opportunity during her practical nursing training.
“He was very inspirational. He has the perfect outlook on life,” said Rice. “He can’t walk around and he’s in a wheelchair, but he’s a happy little thing – a free spirit. He played hide and seek with us in the room. It was an eye opener; you don’t see that very often.”
ATC Nursing Instructor Betty Manning, R.N., coordinated the visit with her students, hoping to inspire each of them to become the best in their chosen field.
“Having Cameron and Katie come and share their story has been a wonderful experience for the students and instructors,” said Manning. “This opportunity compliments what students learn after clinical and didactic instruction of nursing. Katie sharing her story from a mother’s perspective reminds all of us that what we do as nurses has a major impact on our patients and their families.”
Katie looks at the opportunity to introduce her son to nursing students as investment in better care for his future.
“His condition is something that just isn’t covered, if barely, in the medical books,” said Katie McCort. “We run into doctors on a regular basis who have never seen someone with his condition, and some don’t even know about it. I know by taking my son in to meet these students, they will want to learn more about his condition – and other rare ones. You don’t forget Cameron once you meet him.
“It’s important for nurses especially to be aware of these conditions and to learn to be an advocate for the parent,” added McCort. “I encourage nurses to listen to the parents because they are the ones who have more experience dealing with the patient; and, those nurses with their medical training can better explain the parent’s perspective to the doctors. We are grateful for this opportunity and we’ll keep coming as we are invited.”
Cameron is the youngest of McCort’s four children. He attends regular kindergarten class and is assisted in the classroom by an aide. This is his third visit to the college to “play” with the students.
Students in ATC’s LPN Program will complete their coursework in December, with a pinning ceremony planned for Dec. 8 in Jesup. The program began in January. Once completed, students may apply and test for board certification.
To apply for admission to Altamaha Technical College, call the admissions office at 912-427-1958. Spring Semester begins January 9, 2012. To learn more about the college’s over 80 different degree, diploma, or technical certificate of credit programs, go online to www.altamahatech.edu.
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