Health
Nebraska baby born with cataracts has 3 eye surgeries to save her sight: ‘I just kept praying’
Madison Artale’s world was darkening before it even began. Diagnosed with congenital cataracts at less than two months old, the baby — born in Bellevue, Nebraska, on Oct. 1 — was in danger of losing her sight forever.
Her parents, who were stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, turned to Children’s Nebraska for help.
To save the child’s sight, Dr. Paul Rychwalski, medical director of ophthalmology at the hospital, embarked on a mission with his team.
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Brandee Artale first noticed the baby’s cataracts while she was breastfeeding her, she told Fox News Digital during an on-camera interview. (See the video at the top of this article.)
“I looked down, and I was like, there’s something weird in her eyes,” she said.
Madison Artale, pictured here in both images, was diagnosed with congenital cataracts at just 1.5 months old. (Andrew and Brandee Artale)
At first, the parents thought it was just an odd reflection of light, but their primary doctor confirmed they should see an eye doctor.
From there, they were referred to Children’s Nebraska.
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Congenital cataracts are quite rare in babies, according to Rychwalski.
“We think of cataracts as older adults having them — you know, Grandpa needs cataract surgery,” he told Fox News Digital. “But it does happen in children.”
Madison Artale, pictured here, was in danger of losing her sight forever if she didn’t get immediate surgery. (Andrew and Brandee Artale)
About a third of cases are inherited, and another third stem from other medical or genetic problems, the doctor said.
The final third come from unknown causes, which was the case for Madison Arta
In eyes with cataracts, the lens that sits directly behind the pupil is cloudy. Some cases are more severe than others, Rychwalski said.
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“In Madison’s case, it was a dense, white, cloudy opacity right in the center of the visual axis,” he said.
“So there was no way to get through that to stimulate the retina and bring sight to her brain. She was at risk of permanent vision loss if we didn’t clear this visual access in a timely fashion.”
It was important to remove the cloudy lens as soon as possible so the brain could immediately have a focused image, Rychwalski said.
“I just kept praying everything would be OK, and that she would make it through.”
Brandee Artale described the prospect of surgery for her new baby as “terrifying.”
“I kept thinking, my daughter’s only 2-1/2 months old and she’s going under anesthesia … Is this safe for her?” she told Fox News Digital.
“I just kept praying everything would be OK, and that she would make it through.”
Seeing his daughter get wheeled into surgery “tugged at my heartstrings,” said dad Andrew Artale, pictured with little Madison Artale. (Andrew and Brandee Artale)
Over the next few months, the team performed three delicate surgeries using the NGENUITY 3D Visualization System.
“All of the ocular structures are very, very small,” Rychwalski said. “And so we’ve used some new technology in magnification and surgical displays.”
He went on, “Instead of staring down through a microscope, I’m actually sitting straight up with 3D glasses, looking at a very large screen. And while I’m operating, everyone in the room has the exact same view as I do. There’s a reverence for what we’re doing for Madison. The teamwork in the operating room in this fragile surgery is … something pretty astounding.”
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Madison Artale had the cataracts removed from both eyes at different times, her father told Fox News Digital.
“And then she had pressure issues in her left eye that required her to go into a third surgery,” he said.
Today, at 7 months old, Madison Artale (pictured with mom Brandee Artale) is doing well and seeing great with the help of her special prescription glasses. (Andrew and Brandee Artale)
Seeing his daughter get wheeled into surgery “tugged at my heartstrings,” said Andrew Artale.
“But she [handled] the surgeries amazingly. I couldn’t have asked for her to handle it as well as she did.”
“You need to be able to express your emotions and fears.”
At 7 months old, Madison Artale now sees clearly. She is captivated by the world around her, according to her parents.
To correct her vision, she wears special prescription eyeglasses.
“They’re like second nature to her now,” her father said. “We don’t have to fight to try to put the glasses on. And she’s looking around at everything just as she would normally. So we’re very happy with the results.”
Sometime in the future, Madison Artale will need another surgery to implant a replacement lens, her doctor said. (Andrew and Brandee Artale)
Sometime in the future, Madison Artale will need another surgery to implant a replacement lens, the doctor said.
Throughout the entire process, trust in Dr. Rychwalski and the entire care team at Children’s Nebraska has been paramount, said Brandee Artale.
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“I think that’s probably the most important thing for any parent … is having a relationship with your doctor. You need to be able to express your emotions and fears.”
She added, “Having that relationship … has made this whole journey so much easier on all of us.”
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The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S.
The Wegovy pill, from drugmaker Novo Nordisk, was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce excess body weight, maintain long-term weight reduction and lower the risk of major cardiovascular events.
Approval of the once-daily 25mg semaglutide pill was based on the results of two clinical trials — the OASIS trial program and the SELECT trial.
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The Wegovy pill demonstrated a mean weight loss of 16.6% in the OASIS 4 trial among adults who were obese or overweight and had one or more comorbidities (other medical conditions), according to a press release. In the same trial, one in three participants experienced 20% or greater weight loss.
The first oral GLP-1 medication for weight loss has been approved for use in the U.S. (iStock)
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile.
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“With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, in the press release.
Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile. (James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images)
“As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight-loss journey.”
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The oral GLP-1 is expected to launch in the U.S. in early January 2026. Novo Nordisk has also submitted oral semaglutide for obesity to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” an expert said. (iStock)
Dr. Sue Decotiis, a medical weight-loss doctor in New York City, confirmed in an interview with Fox News Digital that studies show oral Wegovy is comparable to the weekly injectable, just without the needles.
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Although the pill may result in better compliance and ease of use, Decotiis warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version due to individual idiosyncrasies in the body.
“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” she said.
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“In my practice, I have found tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) to yield more weight loss and fat loss than semaglutide by about 20%,” the doctor added. “This has been shown in studies, often [with] fewer side effects.”
More oral GLP-1s may be coming in 2026, according to Decotiis, including an Orforglipron application by Lilly and a new combination Novo Nordisk drug, which is pending approval later next year.
One expert warned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract as well as with the injectable version. (iStock)
“There will be more new drugs available in the future that will be more effective for patients who are more insulin-resistant and have not responded as well to semaglutide and/or tirzepatide,” the doctor said. “This is great news, as novel drugs affecting more receptors mean better long-term results in more patients.”
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As these medications become cheaper and easier to access, Decotiis emphasized that keeping up with healthy lifestyle habits — including proper nutrition with sufficient protein and fiber, as well as increased hydration — is essential to ensuring lasting results.
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“If not, patients will regain weight and could lose muscle and not enough body fat,” she said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Novo Nordisk for comment.
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A study from Sweden’s Uppsala University discovered a link between microplastics and multiple sclerosis (MS).
The research, published in the journal Environmental International, discovered that exposure to two common environmental contaminants, PFAS and PCBs, could increase the risk of the autoimmune disease.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are used in some common household products, such as non-stick cookware, textiles and cleaning products. They have also been found in drinking water throughout the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are toxic industrial chemicals once widely used in electrical equipment before being banned decades ago, as stated by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The new study findings were based on blood samples of 1,800 Swedish individuals, including about 900 who had recently been diagnosed with MS, according to a university press release.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as “forever chemicals,” are used in some common household products, including non-stick cookware. (iStock)
The first phase of the trial studied 14 different PFAS contaminants and three substances that appear when PCBs are broken down in the body. These were then investigated for a link to the odds of diagnosis.
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“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PCBs, were linked to increased odds for MS,” lead study author Kim Kultima said in a statement. “People with the highest concentrations of PFOS and PCBs had approximately twice the odds of being diagnosed with MS, compared to those with the lowest concentrations.”
The researchers then examined the combined effects of these substances and found that the mixture was also linked to increased risk.
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Fellow researcher Aina Vaivade noted that risk assessments should consider chemical mixtures, not just individual exposures, because people are typically exposed to multiple substances at the same time.
“We saw that several individual substances, such as PFOS and two hydroxylated PCBs, were linked to increased odds for MS,” the lead study author said. (iStock)
The final phase of the study investigated the relationship between inheritance, chemical exposure and the odds of MS diagnosis, revealing that those who carry a certain gene variant actually have a reduced MS risk.
However, individuals who carried the gene and had higher exposure to PFOS — a singular type of chemical in the PFAS family — had an “unexpected” increased risk of MS.
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“This indicates that there is a complex interaction between inheritance and environmental exposure linked to the odds of MS,” Kultima said.
“We therefore think it is important to understand how environmental contaminants interact with hereditary factors, as this can provide new knowledge about the genesis of MS and could also be relevant for other diseases.”
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that leads to the breakdown of the protective covering of the nerves, according to Mayo Clinic. (iStock)
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel commented on these findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“MS is a complex disease that is somewhat autoimmune and somewhat post-inflammatory,” said Siegel, who was not involved in the study. “Epstein-Barr virus infection greatly increases the risk of MS.”
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“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role, including microplastics, and this important study shows a correlation, but not causation — in other words, it doesn’t prove that the microplastics caused MS.”
The study had some limitations, the researchers acknowledged, including that the chemical exposure was measured only once, at the time of blood sampling. This means it may not accurately represent participants’ long-term or past exposure levels relevant to MS development.
“There is every reason to believe that environmental triggers play a role.”
Fox News Digital reached out to several industry groups and manufacturers requesting comment on the potential link between PFAS chemicals and multiple sclerosis.
Several have issued public statements, including the American Chemistry Council, which states on its website that “manufacturers and many users of today’s PFAS are implementing a variety of practices and technologies to help minimize environmental emissions.”
In April 2024, the EPA enacted a new federal rule that sets mandatory limits on certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water, aiming to reduce exposure. The agency also aims to fund testing and treatment efforts.
A woman working out outdoors takes a sip of water from a plastic bottle. (iStock)
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that leads to the breakdown of the protective coverings that surround nerve fibers, according to Mayo Clinic.
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The immune system’s attack on these nerve sheaths can cause numbness, weakness, trouble walking and moving, vision changes and other symptoms, and can lead to permanent damage.
There is currently no cure for MS, Mayo Clinic reports, but treatment is available to manage symptoms and modify the course of the disease.
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