E.coli 0157

By Mary Heersink

In this fast-paced, emotionally charged true-life medical drama which verges on science fiction, a mother fights to save her son from a deadly bacteria. At camp, eleven-year-old Damian Heersink... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0882821431
• ISBN13: 9780882821436
• Release Date: July 1996
• Publisher: New Horizon Press
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 1.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

A mother and son's fight for life

This book is a true story about a boy named Damion who was struck down by a mysterious microbe...E-coli. Mary, the mother and also wife of a doctor is torn between guilt for not recognizing her son's symptoms earlier and anger for the lack of regulations when it comes to testing meat. Damion was at a boy scout camp when he ate several hamburgers, which were not cooked well and a few days later he became very ill. He was hospitalized and fought a roller coaster ride of dangerous attacks on his organs by the microbe. First his kidneys almost failed, he had to be placed on dialysis, the his lungs filled with fluid and he had to be on a respirator. Meanwhile his father Marnix, who happened to be a doctor is fully involved in his son's treatment plan. Marnix becomes exhausted because of his double role as a father to Damion and as a doctor who knows the dangers that lie ahead. This book is very well written and will keep the reader on the edge of the seat. I had a hard time putting the book down. The character development is amazing, because the reader can practically see the people that are presented in the book, from doctors, to nurses to friends, even when a character has not been developed as well as another, the importance of that person will become clear in the book sooner or later. This is an amazing story of courage from a family who may lose their son to the deadly e-coli bacteria.

WOW

I have not actually read the book but intend to purchase and read it asap. I saw the forensics file tonight. It was about this case... I EAT Raw hamburger on a regular basis. I am 45 and have not been affected but now I am very concerned. The doctors interviewed said it can affect some people differently and it seems Damion was one of those people. I did not eat raw beef when we had the mad cow scare and now I thought I was ok. I cook the burgers I make on a very high heat to sear the outside to a crisp and leave the inside pretty raw. It upsets me that we, as advanced as we are can not eat beef the way it was intended. Having 3 children of my own makes me worry more as they like beef rare but NOT hamburger...thank goodness. I feel for Daimon and his family and the show has really made me question if I should continue on this path. Good Luck to him and his family...May you be as healthy as possible. ps. if you disagree with eating rare or under cooked beef, I dont want to hear from you-- thanks in advance...we each have our own ways of eating food...

Educational- cant-stop-reading

This book rocks my socks. It is so detailed and true to the science behnd the disease. I could not stop reading it. I don't like nonfiction books, but this one is awsome.

Incredible - heartbreaking and informative!

This was an incredible book. I read it several years ago and still recommend it to others. It is so informative, and makes you very aware of the dangers of E. coli. I am the Chairman of Health & Safety at my son's elementary school. I think part of the reason I am doing it is to educate parents on issues such as this. It touched me deeply.

Educational, heart-wrenching

This is a well written, informative book. My heart went out to the Heersink family, as I have children of my own. As a nurse, I read this book from a professional view and as a mother, from an emotional view. It is very fortunate that Damion's father was in the medical profession and that he knew that transfusions were necessary to help his son recover. E-coli is normally found in the intestines, however new strains are emerging and they are deadly, if not identified quickly and appropriately treated. This book is well written, and understandable from both medical and layman perspectives.