Joe Biden's Cancer Situation Has Divided The Internet, Mexican Navy's Crazy Brooklyn Bridge Crash
PDS Published 05/19/2025
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That is one of the many questions and controversies that have stemmed from the news that the former president was just diagnosed with cancer.
Right, yesterday, his office released a statement saying:[]
“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone.”
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management. The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
As for what all that means, well, metastasis means the cancer has spread from its initial site, so in Biden’s case, from his prostate to his bones.
And that Gleason score means that the cancer is more likely to grow and spread.
And so naturally, there have been a ton of people sharing condolences, including Comma-luh Harris and Barack Obama, who wished for a speedy recovery and added that Biden will fight this challenge head-on.[][]
You even had people on the right playing nice, with Trump saying he was saddened by the news and sending well wishes to the Biden family. []
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene calling cancer “truly awful” and saying she would pray for his family, too.[]
And today, Biden thanked everyone who sent him messages of support. []
But not everyone was sending messages of support, right.
Some responses were more controversial.
With a ton of people focusing on Biden’s health as it related to his hopes to hold onto political office, with USA Today writing that his diagnosis:
“underscored growing questions and, among some top Democrats, anger about his initial decision to run for re-election despite signs of physical frailty and the reality of advanced age.”[]
Especially since in another timeline or universe, maybe Biden stayed in the race and even won, and he would be just a few months into a new term with a cancer diagnosis.
And this comes as Democrats have already been dealing with claims that Biden and his team were trying to cover up his ailing health.
With a new book titled “Original Sin” coming out this week, which is about “President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.”
And news that he has cancer now just adds fuel to that fire.
With this being something Vice President JD Vance touched on while talking to reporters this morning:
“We really do need to be honest about whether the former president was capable of doing the job." (0:23-0:28)
“I don’t think he was able to do a good job for the American people, and that’s not politics, that’s not because I disagreed on policy, that is because I don’t think he was in good enough health. In some ways, I blame him less than I blame the people around him. And why didn’t the American people have a better sense of his health picture? Why didn’t the American people have more accurate information about what he has been dealing with? This is serious stuff.” (0:41-1:03)
“We can pray for good health, but also recognize that if you were not in good enough health to do the job, you shouldn’t be doing the job.” (1:10-1:17)
And even though JD Vance was criticized for saying this at all, some have taken the idea of questioning Biden’s health further, speculating that he learned of his cancer while in office and hid it. [][][][]
With one urologist telling NewsNation that given the kind of medical care Biden received in office, he could have known for a while. []
Donald Trump Jr. also questioning when Biden found out about his cancer in a post that also seemingly took a shot at Jill Biden’s doctorate in education, saying:
“What I want to know is how did Dr. Jill Biden miss stage five metastatic cancer or is this yet another coverup???”[]
And that post sparked backlash of its own from people who noted that it's pretty common information that Dr. Jill Biden is not a medical doctor, calling Trump Jr. vile and rude for responding to Biden’s cancer with this kind of rhetoric. [][]][[]
But there was also more general pushback to anyone focusing on coverup allegations and speculation, the likes of Megan McCain writing:[]
“I don’t know if it’s just my bias or background but I don’t want to hear anything else about Biden’s health coverup, tell all’s, interviews with staff etc. Let the Biden family be in peace right now. This is all just so sad and imprudent.”
Others also countering claims that he must have known for a while,
With one medical oncologist at Johns Hopkins telling the Washington Post that it would not be surprising if previous prostate exams failed to show cancer indications as a “better test” is needed.v[]
But that is also just one slice of the backlash this news has created.
Because you also have some people mocking Biden and his illness or guessing how long he has left. [][][]
Others who disagreed with Biden’s policies just refusing to show any sympathy or rooting for the cancer.
With journalist Taylor Lorenz getting heat for writing things like:
Hasan Piker also facing backlash for joking about the news by sharing a headline about Biden’s cancer diagnosis and writing:
“hes running in 2028!!!!!”[]
With him then later saying:
“the msm [mainstream media] is already actively laundering the reputation of a war criminal who oversaw the genocide of palestinians who's selfish nature allowed trump to win a second term - joe biden is an awful monster. prostate cancer doesnt change that.”[]
And you have some slamming both Taylor and Hasan, thinking it is insensitive to post comments like that at this time.[][][]
With some writing things like:
“Marjorie Taylor Greene prays for Joe Biden’s cancer recovery while Hasan Piker gloats and celebrates.”[]
“Maybe let's not play partisan games with a cancer diagnosis, okay? Joe Biden is a public servant…He deserves an opportunity to rest, be with his family, and have a fighting chance at recovery. Just be normal, and pray for him.”[]
Though, it is worth noting that some are also using this as an opportunity to make jokes at Trump’s expense, too, saying that cancer got the “wrong” president.[][][]
So I would love to know your thoughts on all of this here, on what is and is not okay to say in the immediate aftermath of news like this, where the line is when it comes to both serious discussion about Biden’s career, or when it comes to those mocking or celebrating this.
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A Mexican Navy ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City!
So far, we know that 2 crew members aboard the ship have died and more than 20 others have been injured. []
And videos of the crash from every angle have been circulating online since it happened and there are still a lot of unanswered questions.
But as for what we do know, the ship is called the Cuauhtémoc (Qua-tem-ock) and it set sail from Mexico on a mission of, quote, “exalting the seafaring spirit, strengthening naval education and carrying the Mexican people’s message of peace and good will to the seas and ports of the world.” []
Essentially, it was on a goodwill tour with plans to stop in places like New York, Jamaica, Cuba, Iceland, Scotland, Spain, Barbados, and London. []
With the AP reporting their schedule included visits to 22 ports in 15 nations over 254 days, 170 of them at sea. []
We also know that this ship is used as a training vessel - setting out at the end of classes at the naval military school to finish cadets' training each year. []
Now, the Qua-tem-ock arrived in New York on May 13th and was open to visitors for a few days.
And the plan was for the ship to push off from Pier 17 Saturday night, head south and set sail out of the New York harbor with a stop in Brooklyn to refuel before heading to Iceland. []
However, when they left the pier, it started moving in the wrong direction - going backwards towards the Brooklyn Bridge behind it.
Until the top of the ship’s masts ran into the bottom of the bridge and broke like twigs as the ship kept moving.
At the time of the crash there were 277 people onboard and the crash reportedly left many dangling from the damaged masts in harnesses. []
According to Mexican Naval officials, a total of 22 people were injured with 11 of those being in critical condition. []
And two people, one of which was later confirmed to be a cadet, died as a result of the collision.
There were reportedly no injuries from on the bridge and the bridge itself didn’t take any structural damage and all the lanes across were reopened after a brief closure following the crash. []
Afterwards, the Qua-tem-ock was moved further up the East River and docked at a different pier.
Now, we saw both New York Mayor Adams and the Mexican President putting out statements about the crash - thanking first responders, expressing condolences about those who died, and promising more information as investigations unfold.
But the big question here is how in the hell did this even happen?
According to a preliminary investigation, the ship, quote, “experienced a mechanical malfunction.” []
With an unnamed senior city official familiar with the investigation telling CNN,
“It was the current that took it under the bridge. It wasn’t supposed to be headed in that direction.” []
And adding,
“They had some sort of mechanical issue, they lost power. So, without being able to use the rudder, they could not steer.” []
Though it’s important to note that those are just preliminary findings and obviously subject to change as the National Transportation Safety Board, the NYPD, and the Mexican government investigate further. []
So we’ll be sure to keep our eyes on this as we wait for more information.
In the meantime, I’d love to know your thoughts in those comments down below.
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We’ve gotta talk about this horrifying IVF clinic bombing, the heros who reacted to it, and the downright bizarre motivations of the guy who allegedly did it.
At around 11 a.m. Saturday, a car bomb reportedly detonated outside the American Reproductive Center, an IVF clinic in Palm Springs. [Image]
With the enormous blast shattering windows three blocks away; it was even felt in the next town over, with some saying they thought it was an earthquake. [Image]
But miraculously, although it damaged the clinic’s office space, the explosion reportedly left the actual lab unharmed. [Image and Quote, find “unharmed”]
So according to police, an FBI agent and a firefighter rushed into the building, which at the time appeared to be on the brink of collapse, to save the embryos and medical records. [Quote, find “brink”]
Because even if they’re intact, the embryos could still die if the refrigeration system is disrupted.
And of course, losing the records could destroy the dreams of aspiring parents who have spent months or years, not to mention tens of thousands of dollars, trying to have a baby.
So the pair, whom many are calling heros, reportedly confirmed the fridges were functioning and emerged carrying paperwork to safety.
Also, while several people were reportedly injured, the only fatality appears to have been the suspected bomber himself, according to police.
And as for what we know about him, reportedly he was 25 years old, he was former military, and he tried to livestream the attack.
With police confirming that he acted alone. [Quote, find “alone”]
But what’s really striking about his profile is his stated motivations.
Right, because apparently he left behind writings in which he identifies as a “pro-mortalist.”
Which basically means he believed in bringing about his own and others’ deaths as quickly as possible “to prevent your future suffering, and, more importantly, the suffering your existence will cause to all the other sentient beings.” [Quote]
With him explaining, “Understand your death is already a guarantee … All a promortalist is saying is let’s make it happen sooner rather than later … to prevent your future suffering.” [Quote]
Then also adding in an audio recording, “Basically, it just comes down to I’m angry that I exist and that, you know, nobody got my consent to bring me here.” [Quote]
And then saying about IVF clinics specifically, “These are people who are having kids after they’ve sat there and thought about it. How much more stupid can it get?” [Quote same link]
So I’m sure we’re gonna find out more about his background, and what led him to accept such a strange and nihilistic worldview, but with what we already know, this is one of the most disturbing terror attacks I’ve ever seen.
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If you are in or near Louisiana, maybe you’re a little bored, maybe you’ve got some time to kill, you could win up to 140,000 dollars right now.
All you have to do is catch seven escaped violent criminals who are considered “armed and dangerous.”
Right, initially there were 10 of them, three were quickly caught, and the FBI, ATF, and CrimeStoppers are offering 20,000 dollars for each of the remaining ones. [Images]
With all this starting on Friday, when deputies at the New Orleans Parish jail reportedly did their routine headcount that morning and discovered the men missing. [Image]
[Clip, 00:58 - 01:01] Caption: “Oh my holy god.”
And in a jail cell, they found the escape route: a metal toilet that had been moved aside, exposing a precut hole in the wall. [Image]
And apparently the escapees have a sense of humour, because they reportedly left parting messages on the wall like “Catch us when you can,” a smiley face with its tongue out, and “to easy lol” with an arrow pointing to the hole. [Image]
Now according to the authorities, the breakout occurred the previous night, while everyone was supposed to be asleep.
With the inmates allegedly yanking their sliding cell door off its tracks at around 12:23 a.m., then sneaking into a neighboring handicap cell. [Quote, find “yank”
Meanwhile, a civilian employee who should’ve seen them had reportedly left to get food. [Quote, find “food”]
Also, even after moving the toilet, the inmates shouldn’t have been able to get through the hole, since there’s usually a crosshatch of metal bars combined with metal plumbing bolted into the concrete. [Image]
But somehow, according to authorities, at least one steel bar protecting plumbing fixtures appeared to have been intentionally cut using a tool.
So one by one, they allegedly squeezed through, making their way to a door by the docks where supplies are brought in, then scaled a jail wall using blankets to cover the razor wire. [B roll, 00:18 - 00:32]
After that, they allegedly ran across nine lanes of Interstate 10, stripped off their jail uniforms, and made off into the night. [Same B roll]
Now as the police are looking for those men, they also suspect that others may be involved, even within law enforcement.
With the sheriff saying: [Lead B roll into clip]
[Clip, 03:28 - 03:35; Clip, 00:50 - 00:57] Caption: “We have indication that these detainees received assistance in their escape from individuals inside of our department. … It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help from the outside.”
So right now, reportedly three sheriff’s office employees have been put on administrative leave, and the FBI believes more people are still helping the inmates evade capture. [Quote, find “three of whom”]
All of which is very concerning, because these appear to be some seriously bad dudes.
Right, more than half the escapees are either charged with or convicted of murder or attempted murder, and the rest are accused of armed robbery, aggravated assault and numerous gun crimes. [Quote, find “gun crimes”]
So at least a dozen law enforcement agencies including the FBI and U.S. Marshals spent the weekend hunting for them.
With state troopers IDing one man through facial recognition software in New Orleans’ French Quarter, about three miles from the jail, hiding under a car in a hotel parking garage, and catching him after a brief foot chase Friday. [Post]
Then, later that same day, police say they caught two more men, but no more have been found as of this recording. [Post and Post]
Though on Sunday, the Louisiana State Police superintendent said:
[Clip, 01:29 - 01:42] Caption: “We’re confident at this time that we have actionable intelligence on all seven of those fugitives. And we hope, in the coming days if not the coming hours, that we have them all apprehended, but we need the public’s help.”
So we’ll keep an eye on that, but in the meantime, everyone’s pointing fingers, trying to figure out who to blame.
With Republican Governor Jeff Landry saying he’s ordered the attorney general to investigate the jailbreak, the corrections department to audit the jail, and the inspector general to get a list of all pre-trial detainees and convicts awaiting sentences in the jail. [Lead B roll into clip]
Then slamming his political enemies for what he claims is an overly soft justice system. [Lead B roll into clip]
[Clip, 11:15 - 11:28, 11:46 - 12:06; Clip, 18:04 - 18:16] Caption: “Prosecutors who dismiss cases and release violent criminals must be addressed. Five of these escapees had been charged while in jail. … Their charges were refused by the district attorney. Prosecutors who are unprepared and delay cases for years must be addressed in this court system. Nine of the 10 escapees have been in the pre-trial stages at OPCC for years now. … I hope that everyone understands that the video of those prisoners escaping epitomizes a progressive criminal justice system.”
But others, most notably the sheriff, have pointed to the jail itself being underfunded, understaffed and overcrowded as the reason why this happened.
[Clip, 07:00 - 07:10, 07:19 - 07:25] Caption: “This incident has highlighted once again the critical need for repairs and upgrades to our facilities, particularly to ensure that doors and locks are fully functional. … We still need 150 deputies in this jail and another 50 for the new jail about to open.”
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Israel is launching an all new, large-scale offensive in Gaza.
With the Israeli army announcing “extensive ground operations” and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu claiming the military will take “full control" over the whole of the territory.
And with that, the country is seemingly following through on a plan previously approved by the country’s security cabinet to forcibly displace virtually all of the 2 million Palestinians left in the enclave and flatten almost any building that remains standing.
And notably, that’s even as you have the UN reporting today 92% of homes in Gaza have ALREADY been damaged or destroyed – all while countless people have been displaced multiple times.
And with all that, we’ve already seen the IDF ordering the evacuation of the second-largest city in Gaza today for what it is describing as an “unprecedented attack.”
With this being as Israeli strikes over just the 72 hours leading up to this morning killed more than 300 people, many of them women and children.
In one case, for example, an attack on a school-turned-shelter inside of a refugee camp reportedly killed five people, including a woman and a girl, and wounded 18, mostly children, according to the hospital that received the casualties. []
And beyond that, this past week? It’s been one of the deadliest weeks in Gaza in months.
Right, last Tuesday, for example, Israeli strikes near a hospital reportedly killed at least 28 people.
The next day, Israeli bombing reportedly killed as many as 80 people, including at least 22 children.
And from Thursday morning though Friday? The Israeli military reportedly killed more than 250 people.
With now the total direct death toll having passed 53,000 – most of them women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Notably, with several thousand having been killed since an Israel-Hamas ceasefire went into effect in mid-January.
Right, after the first six-week phase of that deal expired on March 1st, Israel refused to move onto a second phase that would've been aimed at ending the war and getting all the remaining hostages released.
WIth Hamas rejecting an alternative Israeli proposal, and the Israeli government then cutting off all supplies to Gaza and relaunching its offensive.
And now, with that, you have Netanyahu’s office announcing alongside this latest offensive that it would be allowing a, quote, “basic amount of food” into the territory “to ensure that a hunger crisis does not develop in the Gaza Strip.”
Though, notably, of course, aid groups and experts say the people of Gaza are looking at “hunger crisis” in the rear view mirror.
With a UN panel saying just one week ago that the enclave’s entire population of over 2.1 million people is facing a risk of famine – made worse by Israel’s 11-week blocking of aid.
And to that point, since the aid blockade began on March 2nd, 57 children have reportedly died from malnutrition, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
With the World Health Organization saying this number is likely an underestimate and is likely to increase.
And adding that, if the situation persists, nearly 71 000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished over the next eleven months.[]
And with all that, the prospect of a “basic” amount of food getting in isn’t really reassuring to anyone –
Especially since Israel has now put forward a new plan to distribute humanitarian aid from a series of hubs run by private contractors and protected by Israeli troops. []
Right, the US has backed the plan, but aid groups, notably, are refusing to participate –
Saying there’s no evidence of Israel’s justification for the plan, which is that Hamas steals a significant chunk of aid to fund its operations…
And further describing it as dangerous and potentially unlawful because it could lead to the forced mass transfer of Palestinians.
With UN Aid Chief Tom Fletcher, for example, describing it as a “cynical sideshow” and “a deliberate distraction" and calling on the UN Security Council to “act – decisively – to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law." []
And on that note, we’ve also recently had rights groups like Amnesty International repeating the accusation of genocide against Israel –
And people like the UN Rights Chief saying Israel’s recent actions appear “to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza that is in defiance of international law and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing" []
Now with that, on Sunday, you did have Netanyahu suggesting that Israel would be open to striking a deal with Hamas that involved “ending the fighting.”
But at the same time, you had him laying out conditions that have been repeatedly rejected by Hamas – including the exile of its leaders and the disarmament of the Gaza Strip.[]
But in the meantime the U.S. is still pushing for an updated ceasefire.
Right, what’s currently on the table would reportedly involve the release of 10 of the 20 or so remaining living hostages in exchange for a 45- to 60-day ceasefire.
And in return, Israel would release hundreds of Palestinians from its jails.[]
But also notably, what would really set it apart from previous proposals is that it reportedly offers some type of US-backed guarantee to ensure talks about a permanent end to the war actually take place.
With one source telling Axios:
“The new offer tries to give Hamas confidence that it's worth moving forward with a partial deal now, because it could lead to the end of the war later on.” []
But with that, as far as the US role in all this?
One thing worth noting that some people are arguing Trump is shaking up US-Israel relations in a way that no one has in decades.
Right, last week, for example, he opted not to meet with Netanyahu on his trip to the region.
And he’s also gone around Israel twice in the past month to make deals with militant groups opposed to Israel.
Including Hamas last week, which released an Israeli-American hostage as a gesture of goodwill.
And then earlier this month, with the Houthis, which agreed to stop attacking American ships in the Red Sea – even as the group pledged to continue fighting Israel.
And then, this week, notably, Vice President JD Vance reportedly considered traveling to Israel but decided against it.
WIth the reason allegedly being that he didn't want to give the impression that the White House endorsed the Israeli government’s decision to launch a massive operation at a time when the U.S. is pushing for a deal.
That said, there’s been no real sign that the White House has any interest in restraining Israel when it comes to its war on Gaza.
Right, even as you had Trump voicing concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, you also had him saying someone should just “let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone.”
So ultimately we’ll have to wait and see how this all plays out, if the dynamic between the two countries really is shifting, and what kind of impact, if any, it might have.
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In big international news, the UK and the EU are hitting the reset button.
Or at least that’s how the two sides are framing this massive post-Brexit deal they just struck, doing away with some of the barriers to trade and travel introduced after the country voted to leave the European Union nearly a decade ago.
With the new agreement also aiming to boost security cooperation in light of the war waging in Ukraine and the US no longer being seen as a reliable ally.
But with all that, of course, this deal isn’t without controversy – especially in the UK.
Right, PM Keir Starmer’s popularity is at an all-time low – with just 23% of Brits having a favorable view of him according to a recent poll. []
And that’s as the far-right Reform UK party – which, notably, is led by a man who is widely seen as something like the man behind Brexit – is growing in popularity, recently winning big in local elections.
And with that, you have Starmer’s government insisting that it isn’t backtracking on Brexit –
Saying the deal “meets the red lines set out in the government’s manifesto – no return to the single market, no return to the customs union, and no return to freedom of movement.” []
But still, you have Reform UK, other right-wing politicians, and right-wing media outlets all describing the deal as “surrender” or “capitulation”
And specifically, you have them accusing Starmer of “selling out” the fishing industry.
Right, because one of the most divisive issues with this whole thing?
It has to do with whether European ships should still be able to fish in British territorial waters.
And in the end, with debate reportedly dragging on until nearly the last minute, the two sides agreed that EU vessels would hang onto their fishing rights until June 30, 2038. []
With the UK in exchange facing fewer barriers when it comes to exporting food products into the EU. []
And in fact, with some routine checks on animal and plant products set to be removed completely, allowing products like British sausages and burgers to be sold back into the EU again. []
Which is actually huge because while the EU is still the UK’s largest trading partner, the country has been hit with a massive 21% drop in exports since Brexit –
Largely due to more burdensome border checks, increased paperwork and other non-tariff barriers. []
But all that said, the 12-year extension was much longer than the UK initially suggested.
It also wasn’t the indefinite extension that some in the EU had wanted, but you still had Starmer having to fight off criticism that he had screwed over British fishermen, calling the deal a “win-win.”
With him also of course pointing to the agreement’s other components – including, for example, measures making it easier for people from the UK to travel to Europe –
Specifically, allowing them to use “eGates” in European airports instead of waiting in long lines to have their passports physically checked at border control.
And then, there are also plans for a new program to allow young Europeans to work in Britain and vice versa.
Though, notably, with this also being a hot-button issue in the UK – and Starmer and the Labour party recently shifting hard to the right to appease the likes of Reform UK – you had the government emphasizing that the new program would limit the time foreigners could spend in Britain and that their numbers would be capped. []
But ultimately, the exact details of the scheme still have to be worked out.
And actually with that, negotiations on several issues are gonna be continuing over the next several months.
With both sides agreeing on a "common understanding" of the topics they want to work together more – including energy, agrifood rules, climate, migration and policing. []
But that brings us to the last big part of this I’ll talk about: defense and security.
Right, notably, former prime minister Boris Johnson rejected the idea of a security pact with the EU when he negotiated his country’s exit from the bloc.
But now, that’s exactly what we’re seeing, with the main takeaway being that the deal paves the way to the UK participating in an all-new 150 billion euro joint defense fund –
Which will distribute money to countries to invest in everything from ammo, to drones, to the protection of critical infrastructure.
But with that, we’ll have to wait and see where all this new cooperation leads, in general, but then also specifically in terms of potential backlash in the UK
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For your spot of good news today, we’re talking about an absolutely massive medical advancement that could change the lives of countless people.
Right, Dr. Indy Gill from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and Dr. Nima (Neema) Nassiri of UCLA just performed the first human bladder transplant ever.
Which is a huge deal because up to this point, most patients who had to have parts of their bladder removed ended up having parts of their intestines repurposed to help them pass urine.
But the problem with that is intestinal tissue is littered with bacteria - so matching it up with the inherently sterile urinary tract doesn’t usually end well. []
With Dr. Gill saying that 80% of patients experience complications ranging from electrolyte shortages to reduction in kidney function.
Not to mention the digestive issues that can pop up when you lose a section of your intestines.
Now, the solution to these problems didn’t just appear out of the blue.
Dr. Gill and Dr. Nassiri have been workshopping approaches to bladder transplants for years now.
Testing both robotic and manual techniques first on pigs, then human cadavers, and then human research donors who don’t have any brain function but still have a heartbeat. []
Once they had perfected their strategy, they drew up plans for a clinical trial and found the perfect first patient - a 41 year old man named Oscar.
You see, Oscar has had a slew of health issues related to his kidneys and bladder - back in 2020, Dr. Nassiri actually removed both of Oscar’s kidneys in response to his battle with late stage kidney disease and renal cancer. []
On top of that, Oscar also survived a rare type of bladder cancer and the surgery to remove the tumor left him without much of a bladder at all. []
By the time Dr. Gill and Dr. Nassiri were ready for their clinical trial on bladder transplants, Oscar’s years of dialysis were beginning to fail.
Fluid was building up in his body and he had so much scarring on his abdomen that it would have been difficult to find a usable section of intestine for another option to be possible. []
With Dr. Nassiri saying,
“He showed up serendipitously but he was kind of an ideal first candidate for this.” []
Which brings us to the day that a bladder match became ready for Oscar.
Dr. Gill and Dr. Nassiri went to the headquarters of OneLegacy, an organ procurement organization in Azusa, California, and joined a team of 7 surgeons working overnight to retrieve a bunch of organs from the donor. []
Then they brought the bladder and kidney to UCLA and after a shower and a nap, they performed the 8 hour surgery to give Oscar a new bladder and kidney that same day. []
Now, kidney transplants can sometimes take up to a week to process urine but in Oscar, the connection between the new kidney and bladder was immediate.
And his creatine level, which measures kidney function, also improved immediately. []
The good news doesn’t stop there, though - a new bladder doesn’t have the same nerve endings so doctors were worried that Oscar wasn’t going to be able to feel that his bladder was full let alone hold or empty it naturally. []
But during his first follow-up appointment, when Dr. Nassiri removed the catheter and gave him fluids, Oscar said that he felt he could go pee naturally. []
With Dr. Gill saying that his jaw was on the floor when he got that call from Dr. Nassiri and he rushed over to the hospital as soon as possible to watch Oscar pee again. []
Which is a really weird sentence.
And he added,
“Of course, this is very, very early. Let’s see how everything goes. But it’s the first time he has been able to pee in seven years. For all of us, this is huge.” []
Now, Oscar is just the first of this clinical trial - with the doctors planning on performing transplants on 4 more patients to get an idea of things like bladder capacity and graft complications before pursuing a larger trial. []
But they say this is definitely the first step in, quote, “the realization of a dream” for treating thousands of patients with crippling pelvic pain, inflammation, and recurring infections. []
With Dr. Gill saying,
“There is no question: A potential door has been opened for these people that did not exist earlier.” []
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