August 12, 2006

Dr. Hodge,

I wanted to thank you for the prompt and professional assistance that you gave us last month. As you recall, I phoned you with a request to identify a mushroom that had been picked at the same location from which one of my patients had foraged and eaten several mushrooms the night before. You asked us to send over the sample and quickly identified it as Amanita bisporigera — the destroying angel.

H. Hallen/Michigan State University

Amanita Bisporigera — the destroying angel

Thanks to your rapid identification, we lost no time in initiating treatment and transferring the gentleman to the care of Peter Abt, MD at the Transplant Center of Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Dr. Abt relayed to me that the patient did well and has had a complete recovery without the need for liver transplantation!

Dr. Abt made the point that it was the rapid identification and treatment that made the difference in this man’s recovery and to that end we owe you a debt of gratitude. This community is lucky to have you as a great resource and a good friend.

Thanks sincerely,
Ric Allen
Richard Allen, MD
Attending Staff
Department of Emergency Medicine
Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca

Editor's note: Kathie Hodge is an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Pathology (Ithaca).