24
Pledges
Jenny Olenick
April 6, 2011
Howard County, MD
Jenny Olenick went to an oral surgeon’s office on March 28, 2011 for the removal of four fully impacted wisdom teeth. Unfortunately, despite the fact the surgery was performed by an oral surgeon with an anesthesiologist administering five sedatives/anesthetics, Jenny went into cardiac arrest after one tooth was removed. She was revived by paramedics and taken to the local hospital, where she was them airlifted to Johns Hopkins Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Jenny was diagnosed with hypoxia, a shortage of oxygen to the brain, along with brain swelling, resulting in severe brain damage. She subsequently went into a coma and was pronounced dead nine days later, on April 6.
A budding performing and recording artist with a sweet soprano voice, Jenny participated in several choruses, and played both the guitar and piano. She also loved performing in musicals, and had begun a disciplined focus on building a career in music. Last summer Jenny had toured in Canada with Maryland Sings, and was looking forward to attending vocal workshops over this past summer at the Berklee College of Music. In addition to her passion for music, Jenny was an honor student also working on completion of her Gold Award, the Girl Scout equivalent to the Eagle Scout Award. The focus of her Gold Award was to culminate in teaching younger students to sing at camp. With a charitable heart, Jenny also enjoyed participating in service projects, and was looking forward to building homes for the indigent in South America.
Although Jenny had experienced social anxiety in early childhood, by age 17 she had blossomed into a friendly, pleasant, and self confident student with friends in many varied groups at high school. At the celebration of her life held shortly after Jenny’s passing, the typically smiling Junior was described as kind, always willing to lend a hand, and one who would stand up for others who were mistreated. Many students remarked that Jenny had made an impact on them, making a real difference in their lives. Jenny’s parents, extended family, and friends now struggle with this tremendous loss.
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| C.J. Greiner | 8961 H | ST | Omaha | NE | 68127 |
These children did not need to die! Please find out why this is happening! Too many tears for such inocent lives lost.
Posted by Linda Olenick on December 17th, 2011.
Jenny was indeed a bright light, a beautiful, kind, talented girl who is, and will continue to be, greatly missed. Love and prayers to you, Cathy and John!
Posted by Michelle Richards on December 17th, 2011.
Jenny was one of our three grandchildren, all girls. We adored her dearly and spent most days with her in her earlier years when we baby sat her while her parents worked. She grew up to be a very loving young lady who was looking forward to graduating from high school and continuing her musical traning in hopes of being a professional singer. Because of what happened to her in a dental office she was taken from us in her 17th year, a beautiful young lady who always had a friendly smile on her face and was held in high esteme by her fellow students, friends and relatives. We miss her so very much and are thankful that we have many wonderful memories of her short time with us. Her parents will never get over her lose. What happened to Jenny should never happen again and something must be done by the powers to be to make sure that it doesnt happen again. John and Kay Olenick, Jenny’s Grandparents
Posted by John Olenick on February 5th, 2013.
I’m about to get my wisdom teeth out and found Jenny whilst researching risks, I wanted to offer my sincere condolences to Jenny’s Grandparents that posted here, and of course her parents. I understand she was an only child as I am and I am now the mother to one son, I can’t bring myself to even try to imagine the pain Jenny’s family must be going through every day. I am perplexed that dentists in the US will offer a general anesthetic in an office? In the UK this is unheard of, the NHS dictates that GAs occur in hospitals. I have been offered a GA for my surgery and it will be in a hospital. I had cosmetic surgery late 2011 and had a great rapport with my anesthetist, he was very experienced and came with a strong recommendation. I remember inquiring who my anesthetist would be and my surgeon replied that that would be the first question he would as if a member of his family was having surgery.
Posted by Jess T on May 17th, 2013.