A Doctor's Devotion, Extraordinary Care
Benzion Josilowski is a happy 11-month-old Lakewood baby who loves to play with his four doting older siblings. But on February 6, 2011, when Benzion was only 3 weeks old, his mom, Esther, noticed something wasn’t quite right.
“Normally I don’t have to wake him up to eat, but on that day, I did,” she says. “He felt a little cool to the touch, and his skin tone appeared paler than usual.”
The day continued as any other for this busy family, with Esther carefully watching Benzion. By the time Esther’s husband, Naftali, came home, Benzion still seemed lethargic and his appetite had not yet returned. As a precaution, they decided to visit a local clinic, where doctors suggested they take him to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Benzion was admitted to the pediatric Emergency Department. While blood work and cultures were being performed, he suddenly went into cardiac arrest. The pediatric emergency team, along with pediatric intensive care physician Bruce Grossman, M.D., and pediatric cardiologist Elsa Castro, M.D., two of more than 100 specialists within Meridian Pediatric Network, quickly gathered to resuscitate Benzion.
Diagnosed with sepsis, a serious bloodstream infection that can be life-threatening, Benzion was closely monitored by the entire Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, including Dr. Grossman; Samuel Thomas, M.D.; and Matthew MacCarrick, M.D., for 10 days.
Despite the extreme stress of the situation, Esther and Naftali felt secure with all the physicians. “It took only minutes for an entire team of doctors to help my son and bring him back to life, and Dr. Grossman stayed with my son for two straight days,” Esther remembers.
Thanks to early, aggressive treatment; a multi-disciplinary approach that included neurology, cardiology, pediatrics, and infectious diseases; and Dr. Grossman’s dedication, Benzion improved quickly and was transferred from intensive care to the pediatric floor.
The Josilowski family was impressed by the level of care extended to their son. “There are a lot of good doctors, but there was something truly special about Dr. Grossman’s devotion,” Esther says.
On February 26, Benzion returned home to a relieved family. “We are grateful to have our baby boy back healthy and happy,” Esther says. “He is smiling all the time now.”
The Josilowski family has since visited K. Hovnanian Children’s
Hospital, often with pastries and pastrami sandwiches from a favorite eatery. Dr. Grossman is delighted with Benzion’s progress, noting that he “has fully recovered and his prognosis is excellent.”
But the Josilowski family will never forget the scare they had, and the extraordinary care their son received. “We were lucky to have him treated by the experts at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital. Because of them, Benzion is truly a living miracle.”
Meet the Doctor
“Normally I don’t have to wake him up to eat, but on that day, I did,” she says. “He felt a little cool to the touch, and his skin tone appeared paler than usual.”
The day continued as any other for this busy family, with Esther carefully watching Benzion. By the time Esther’s husband, Naftali, came home, Benzion still seemed lethargic and his appetite had not yet returned. As a precaution, they decided to visit a local clinic, where doctors suggested they take him to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Benzion was admitted to the pediatric Emergency Department. While blood work and cultures were being performed, he suddenly went into cardiac arrest. The pediatric emergency team, along with pediatric intensive care physician Bruce Grossman, M.D., and pediatric cardiologist Elsa Castro, M.D., two of more than 100 specialists within Meridian Pediatric Network, quickly gathered to resuscitate Benzion.
Diagnosed with sepsis, a serious bloodstream infection that can be life-threatening, Benzion was closely monitored by the entire Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, including Dr. Grossman; Samuel Thomas, M.D.; and Matthew MacCarrick, M.D., for 10 days.
Despite the extreme stress of the situation, Esther and Naftali felt secure with all the physicians. “It took only minutes for an entire team of doctors to help my son and bring him back to life, and Dr. Grossman stayed with my son for two straight days,” Esther remembers.
Thanks to early, aggressive treatment; a multi-disciplinary approach that included neurology, cardiology, pediatrics, and infectious diseases; and Dr. Grossman’s dedication, Benzion improved quickly and was transferred from intensive care to the pediatric floor.
The Josilowski family was impressed by the level of care extended to their son. “There are a lot of good doctors, but there was something truly special about Dr. Grossman’s devotion,” Esther says.
On February 26, Benzion returned home to a relieved family. “We are grateful to have our baby boy back healthy and happy,” Esther says. “He is smiling all the time now.”
The Josilowski family has since visited K. Hovnanian Children’s
Hospital, often with pastries and pastrami sandwiches from a favorite eatery. Dr. Grossman is delighted with Benzion’s progress, noting that he “has fully recovered and his prognosis is excellent.”
But the Josilowski family will never forget the scare they had, and the extraordinary care their son received. “We were lucky to have him treated by the experts at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital. Because of them, Benzion is truly a living miracle.”
Meet the Doctor
Bruce J. Grossman, M.D.
Board certified in Pediatrics & Pediatric Critical Care
Neptune | 732-776-3890
