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Senior's Prom Night Saved by Swift Appendectomy
18 May
Summary
- Teen underwent emergency appendicitis surgery on prom day.
- Doctors discharged her just hours after a minimally invasive procedure.
- She arrived at her senior prom in a wheelchair, celebrating with friends.
A Denver-area high school senior, Lucie Brown, experienced a medical emergency just days before her anticipated senior prom. What began as severe stomach pain on a Wednesday quickly escalated, leading to an appendicitis diagnosis.
By Friday, the same day as her prom, Brown was referred to HCA HealthONE Rocky Mountain Children's for an emergency appendectomy. Pediatric surgeon Dr. Steven Rothenberg performed a minimally invasive procedure, which took about an hour.
Remarkably, Brown was discharged just three hours after surgery. Her mother described the rapid process as almost surreal. Determined not to miss the milestone, Brown attended her prom, making an entrance in a wheelchair.
Dr. Rothenberg highlighted the advancements in minimally invasive surgery, noting that same-day discharges after appendectomies are now routine, a stark contrast to practices of 15-20 years ago. Brown is set to graduate from Arvada West High School and will attend Brigham Young University in Utah.
