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Date Posted: 08:26:24 07/09/08 Wed GMT
Author: Lynn
Subject: Brit legislator pushes for hi-tech medical equip. for NI boy (Chicago Tribune)

British legislator pushes for high-tech medical equipment as boy from Northern Ireland receives treatment in Chicago

Billy Caldwell, now nearly 3, underwent successful diagnosis and treatment for seizures at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village

By Richard Wronski | Chicago Tribune reporter
10:42 PM CDT, July 8, 2008

The plight of an epileptic toddler from Northern Ireland whose mother brought him to Chicago for life-saving treatment last year may spur authorities to upgrade the quality of care available to youngsters in Ulster.

At least that is the hope of Iris Robinson, a member of the British Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly, who visited Billy Caldwell and his mother Tuesday.

The boy, now nearly 3, underwent successful diagnosis and treatment here after officials in Northern Ireland told his mother that the public health system could not help him.

A $2.5 million brain-mapping machine at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village was used to help with Billy's diagnosis. If such state-of-the-art equipment could be brought to Northern Ireland, many neurological and psychiatric conditions would be treated and more young lives saved, Robinson said.




Robinson is chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Health Committee and is married to Peter Robinson, who is first minister. Her goal, she said, is to encourage her country's health ministry to devote more funding for health care technology and personnel so citizens won't have to seek treatment elsewhere.

"It's not going to be a cheap endeavor, but it's one that's important," Robinson said while touring the Illinois Magnetoencephalography Center at Alexian Brothers.

The center is one of 25 such facilities in the U.S. and the first to operate in Illinois.

With Robinson were Billy and his mother, Charlotte. The boy wore a plaid suit and matching cap and was kicking up a storm in his stroller.

After Billy was diagnosed in Belfast, doctors told his mother to take him home and let him die because they could not provide treatment for the violent seizures that wracked his body up to 20 times a day, Charlotte Caldwell said.

The boy underwent initial treatment at Children's Memorial Hospital under the care of Dr. Douglas Nordli.

rwronski@tribune.com

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