Also known as: Superficial partial thickness burn
Multiple patients from a church fire sustained second-degree burns requiring burn unit care and treatment.
Also known as: Full-thickness burns
Yakub, a young boy who started the church fire trying to burn immigration papers, sustained severe third-degree burns over 3/4 of his body, particularly on his feet from trying to stamp out the fire. Required debridement with maggot therapy and skin grafts.
Also known as: Smoke inhalation
Multiple church fire victims experienced shortness of breath and respiratory complications from smoke inhalation, requiring oxygen support and airway management.
Also known as: TLE
Rahel experienced what she believed were spiritual visions of God, but were actually temporal lobe seizures triggered by incense smoke reducing oxygen to her brain. Progressed to full tonic-clonic seizures when untreated. Described as 'Dostoevsky seizures' due to their blissful, spiritual quality.
Also known as: Neck swelling with airway compromise
During surgery for burn injuries, Yakub developed cervical compartment syndrome with throat swelling around the ET tube threatening to suffocate him, requiring emergency cervical fasciotomy.
Also known as: Breast cancer
Temi, a transgender man from Nigeria, presented with bleeding from breast tissue and was found to have a spiculated breast tumor that had invaded the chest wall. Required surgery that extended beyond initial lumpectomy plans. Patient requested double mastectomy as part of gender-affirming care but faced challenges accessing ongoing cancer treatment due to immigration status.
Also known as: Earring aspiration
A pediatric patient presented with a baby carrot lodged in the nose, requiring removal with pediatric speculum in the ED.