In addition to the physical discomfort he suffered, he was terribly embarrassed about his situation and it began to dominate his life. Adult diapers only exacerbated his loss of self-esteem and internal catheters presented too great a risk of recurring urinary tract infections.
With the benefit of access to the necessary materials from my father's practice as a cardiovascular surgeon, I began experimenting with a design for an external catheter that might increase my grandfather's independence and confidence but without presenting the same types of health risks as an internal catheter. The entire process from conceptual design to a practical and usable prototype took months, but eventually, we were able to construct a wearable external catheter fashioned mainly from components of an oxygen mask, a standard hospital urination drainage bag, and lengths of two-centimeter tracheal intubation tubes. Once we produced a reliable design, the benefits were immediate, because my grandfather quickly regained his desire...
Certainly, I recognize that much of that reward had to do with my sentiments for my grandfather; however, I am also quite sure that working in a long-term professional capacity that allowed me to apply my greatest talents within my fields of intellectual interest to help other patients overcome health care challenges is the most fulfilling possible direction for my future. Naturally, I am extremely hopeful that my first step along that path will be acceptance into the Boston University Accelerated Admissions Program and I am tremendously grateful for this opportunity.
