COMMITMENT
to patients and the future
Passion for PATIENTS AND THE FUTURE
TEXAS
STRONG
In
the swirl of activity
surrounding the birth of
Trevor Goehl and his twin
sister, Heather, their parents completely
forgot what they had decided for their
daughter’s middle name. Their new
son was unexpectedly born with a
rare bone condition called osteogenesis
imperfecta (OI), so their forgetfulness
is understandable. Several hours later,
after things had calmed somewhat,
the Goehls selected a family name
for Heather. Today, Trevor still finds
this family story entertaining, since it
shows that even as a baby he managed
to stir things up! “I’m responsible for
changing Heather’s name,” Trevor said
proudly as he wheeled around the
office of his family’s Stihl tool shop in
Bryan this past spring. “Because of
all the drama you were causing at the
time,” his father, Jeff, chimed in from
behind the computer. “That’s right,”
Trevor replied with a smile.
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THE CATALYST August 14 | sw.org
The 23-year-old has an indomitable
personality, engaging those around him
as he reaches new heights with goals he
sets for himself. Trevor has Type 3 OI,
the most advanced form of osteogenesis
imperfecta, also known as brittle bone
disease. The genetic condition prevents
bones from forming, hardening, and
growing normally. People with OI
frequently break bones, have fractures
that rarely heal completely, and don’t
grow to full stature.
The tough early years
Scott & White doctors told the Goehls
that Trevor might not survive the
first days of life. In the early 1990s,
when he was born, OI wasn’t well
understood in the medical community.
“He was very fragile,” says Trevor’s
orthopedist, Hanes H. Brindley Jr.,
MD. “It was the type of OI where you
are very concerned about survival.”
At birth, both of Trevor’s arms and
A rare bone
disease doesn’t
break the spirit
of Trevor Goehl,
who inspires
others and relies
on family, friends,
fitness, and a
positive attitude to
help him through