Date: 2010-07-28
Speaker: WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (democrat)
Chamber: H

Thank you. Chairman PALLONE. for your consideration. Thank you to the Energy and Commerce CommitteeMr. WAXMAN and Mr. GINGREYfor granting us this time to honor Dr. Robert M. Campbell. Thank you to all of the Members. In the last few days. we have added more than 100 cosponsors to this legislation now. which is really remarkable in only a few days. I had a chance to talk to so many of our colleagues about Dr. Campbells story. and they wanted to join us in honoring him. Mr. Speaker. Dr. Robert M. Campbell has dedicated his life to providing children with lifesaving medical care. I first learned about Dr. Campbells work when a little boy in my district named Devin Alfonso was given a terminal diagnosis of severe scoliosis. His spine and ribs were so severely bent that there was no room for his lungs and heart to grow. For some time. the technology had existed to help adult patients with serious skeletal conditions. However. as Devins family had to learn the hard way. the lifesaving medical devices used in adult care are not fit for the small bodies of children. So often. these medical devices are simply far too big for children who are suffering from either scoliosis. Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome. or similar conditions. Even if miniature versions of these devices were created. a growing childs body would mean that the device would quickly become too small and would require more invasive surgery. For years. physicians trying to treat children like Devin were forced to use less effective treatments. more invasive therapies or juryrigged makeshift equipment as their only options in providing this vital care. Far too often. these doctors are left with no effective treatment at all. meaning that a diagnosis like Devins was simply a death sentence. Dr. Campbell refused to accept these outcomes. He devoted his career to working with children like Devin who were suffering from congenital scoliosis. fused ribs. small chests. and missing ribs. He made it his mission to change their fates. In such a dire environment. the work of this dedicated physician. Dr. Robert Campbell. has made all the difference. He has waged a decadeslong campaign to provide a solution for these children that gives them a fighting chance. During the 1980s. while at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Campbell teamed up with the late Dr. Melvin Smith on developing a medical device suitable for children. In 1987. Dr. Campbell. along with Dr. Smith. made a major breakthrough with the invention of the Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib. This device proved to be easy to implant. and importantly. it could be expanded with minor outpatient surgery as the child grows. Unfortunately. as these rare rib and spine disorders occur so infrequently in the population. Dr. Campbell was just starting his journey on getting this lifesaving device to the children who needed it. Completing the necessary trials for Food and Drug Administration approval proved to be a tremendous challenge. The process stretched out for well over a decade. but Dr. Campbell kept at it. working to develop and complete the needed trials. In this effort. he received invaluable help from the National Organization for Rare Disorders. or NORD. This organization of medical professionals helps bring attention to the 6.800 known rare diseases that currently have no approved therapies. Through funding and support from NORD. Dr. Campbell was able to continue his work. Dr. Campbell persevered and he ultimately prevailed. After many years of advocacy. due in large part to his devotion to children. he won approval from the FDA for the Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Titanium Rib on September 2. 2004. Thanks to Dr. Campbells work. Devin Alfonso was able to enroll in a clinical trial to receive the medical device that saved his life. Hundreds of other children suffering from spinal and skeletal abnormalities have also survived and have even thrived thanks to this enthusiastic doctor and his noteworthy invention. From his identification of Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome to his persistence in bringing his lifesaving device to fruition. Dr. Campbell has been a stalwart for childrens health. He is an inspiration to everyone who has worked with him and. most certainly. to the children and families he has helped. I know the impact he has had on Devin and on his mom. Rixys Alfonso. I know. over the past decade. I have gotten to share in the joy as Devin has grown into a wonderful young man. So please join me in celebrating Dr. Campbells achievements and in honoring his unwavering devotion to saving the lives of so many children.