THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 4, 1995 TAG: 9507040381
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARIE JOYCE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NASSAWADOX LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Leah Abraham had seen better days.
The little girl, just one day shy of her first birthday, was visiting the Eastern Shore Rural Health pediatrics clinic for an easy checkup - a few simple, noninvasive tests.
But Leah would have none of it. Long wails resounded from exam room 7, where Dr. Charles A. Bullaboy was trying to listen to her little heart with his stethoscope. He heard wails.
Finally, he got Leah's mother, Jackie, to hold the stethoscope against her daughter's chest. Bullaboy stood behind Leah, who dug her teary face into her mom's shoulder and quieted down.
The doctor closed his eyes and listened closely.
Although Leah might not have appreciated the visit, she benefits from having Bullaboy or one of his colleagues come once a month to the local clinic, which is near Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital.
The visits are part of a regular program sponsored by Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters in Norfolk.
Eastern Shore pediatricians give over some of their office space so that the cardiologists, and other specialists, can see children with problems that need special care.
Leah was born with several heart defects. She's had surgery, and she probably will have more. She also has to see a cardiologist for regular checkups.
This service spares her parents the long trip to King's Daughters.
``It's turned into an all-day affair by the time you get there and get back,'' Bullaboy said.
``A lot of parents may not have transportation, number one,'' he said. Once they overcome that hurdle, they have to arrange time off from work - sometimes losing wages in the process. Then they might have to make arrangements for the care of other children. The round-trip toll on the bridge-tunnel is $20. They must bring food or buy something to eat in Norfolk.
The Eastern Shore facilities can handle physical exams and basic, noninvasive tests like ultrasound and X-ray. Children who need more complex care may have to travel to Norfolk.
That was the case with 10-month-old Kaniya Chandler.
Kaniya has an unusual heart rhythm - an extra little beat accompanies the normal pair of thumps.
Bullaboy studied the results of an X-ray, electrocardiogram and ultrasound test.
Then he listened to Kaniya's heart a long time while she gazed at a Flintstones sticker given to her by a staff member.
He had good news: the extra beat probably is just a benign variation from the norm.
However, he suggested to her mother, Patricia, that she bring the baby to Norfolk for testing on some of the advanced ultrasound equipment there, ``just to be absolutely certain there is nothing else I've missed.''
Since she still needs to make a trip south, Chandler, who must take time off from work, said she was particularly grateful she avoided the journey this day.
``It would have been an hour and a half or more'' each way, she said. Here, she said, ``it's five minutes.'' by CNB