San Francisco First: Experimental Surgery, Superhero Foundation Myth

Mark another San Francisco first: UCSF Children's Hospital is the first in the world to try a new treatment to fix the congenital chest defect known as sunken chest. Doctors have attached "a hockey-puck-size magnet" to 15-year-old Richard Nave's sternum, which will slowly be pulled by another magnet attached to a brace that he wears.

The experimental procedure aims to avoid the long, painful surgery usually used to correct a sunken chest. Pretty cool. But even cooler, especially for a 15-year-old:

"Almost immediately, his mom said, Richard was sticking anything metal he could find to his chest: scissors, paper clips, pens. He contemplated trying to stick himself to the refrigerator."

That's a superhero foundation myth if I've ever heard one. Now all the kid needs is an arch-nemesis. Any thoughts?

pic from the Chronicle

-- Brian Bernbaum