Also known as: Blocked intestine
A 13-year-old dancer presents with abdominal pain and vomiting. Surgery reveals her stomach is distended with pills - skin lightening medications she took in large quantities, causing a blockage.
Initial concern for suicide attempt, but revealed to be self-harm related to racial identity struggles. The biracial adopted teen took excessive skin lightening pills to change her appearance due to experiences with racial discrimination and lack of representation in her white family.
Also known as: Type 2 diabetes
A local neighborhood resident with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes develops a severe foot infection requiring below-knee amputation. Despite medication compliance, his diabetes worsened due to lack of access to healthy food options in the community.
Also known as: Bone infection
Severe foot infection in a diabetic patient that has progressed to bone involvement, requiring emergency debridement and ultimately below-knee amputation.
Helen discovers many patients have been sent vague letters about having dense breast tissue (which can mask cancer on mammograms) but never followed up with proper screening. She initiates a comprehensive outreach program for ultrasounds and MRIs.