A Tolland boy has filed suit against a Vernon pediatrician, claiming she failed to properly evaluate, diagnose and treat his bacterial meningitis, leading to blindness and hearing impairment.
Adam Mlodzinski and his mother, Katherine Mlodzinski, filed suit on Dec. 30, 2011 against Healthwise Medical Associates, Vernon Pediatrics and Dr. Judy Huang-Bulger, according to court documents.
Adam got sick on Halloween night, according to his Web site, Adam's Adventure.
On Nov. 1, 2009, Adam, then 7, went to the doctor to be treated for ear problems and a headache.
But, over the next two days, Adam continued to suffer, according to Adam’s Adventure and the family made several phone calls and visits to the doctor’s office, according to the suit. The family said the plaintiffs diagnosed Adam improperly with an ear infection.
On Nov. 3, phone records show Adam’s parents called 911, when Adam became unresponsive. Adam was brought to Rockville General Hospital and then transferred to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where he was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, according to court documents. There, he remained in a coma for two months.
The suit claims that Adam’s injuries were caused by the failure of Healthwise Medical Associates, Vernon Pediatrics and Dr. Judy Huang-Bulger to diagnose and treat Adam for a systemic infection or order appropriate tests to determine whether an infection was present.
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“Something serious was going on with Adam that was dismissed,” Faxon said.
Attorney James Rosenblum is representing Healthwise and Huang-Bulger and told the Hartford Courant that they did not do anything wrong.
"The doctor did not blow off anything," Rosenblum told the Courant. "That is a false allegation."
Two years after coming out of the coma, Adam is now learning to read Braille and play soccer again.
"He's like a rock star at the school. Everybody loves him,” said Alison Knybel, who is Adam’s neighbor.
She is also President of Adam’s Adventure, a group formed during Adam's recovery. The non-profit organization wants to build a fully-accessible playground at Cross Farms Recreation Complex in Tolland, so that Adam and other children with special needs can all play together.
"It was like let's bring the town together for something positive and happy that will help everyone. And that's really how this started,” Knybel said.
The group has raised $45,000 toward their $500,000 goal.
While their lawsuit alleges Adam's disability never should have happened, Knybel said the Mlodzinski family is determined to make the best of the situation.
"They are humble and they are very, very touched by the excitement that has come from this playground,” Knybel said.
