A Cincinnati surgeon's skill may have closed a leak in the boy's heart, but the doctor's e-mail and encouragement helped 14-year-old Derek Free score perfect marks in a science fair.

        On Friday, by way of thanks at a checkup, Derek shared his top-ranked project with Dr. Peter B. Manning of Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Dr. Peter Manning (right) of Children's Hospital Medical Center checks out patient Derek Free's model of a heart and lungs, part of a school project based on the 14-year-old's open-heart surgery. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        A spiral notebook held close-up pictures of Derek's heart and e-mail exchanges between the Chillicothe, Ohio, teen and the cardiothoracic surgeon.

        Derek also devised a working model of a heart and lungs made out of turkey basters, plastic containers and tubing.

        Dr. Manning said he enjoyed helping Derek research his science fair question, which was: “Will correction of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return increase oxygen delivery in anemic children?”

        “He's been fun to deal with,” Dr. Manning said. “He's a nice kid.”

        “Awesome job” is what Dr. Manning wrote in the e-mail card that he sent Derek upon word that the youth scored a perfect 40 out of 40 on his project and won a spot in the district finals in March at Ohio University in Athens.

        Derek, a high school freshman, wants to become a chemist and write a book called Derek Free's “40 out of 40” Winning Science Fair Projects.

        He hopes to advance to this year's state science fair competition.

        Although his teacher said he didn't have to do a science fair project because of his surgery, Derek couldn't be restrained.

        “I wanted a trophy,” he said with a grin.

        Derek plays the drums in his high school's marching band. Two years ago, he passed out during a performance because of his health problems.

        He has Diamond-Blackfan anemia, which causes his blood to carry oxygen through his body inefficiently.

        Earlier this year, doctors discovered that the anemia was camouflaging another health risk.

        Oxygenated blood that was supposed to be flowing through Derek's body was leaking back into his heart.

        Dr. Manning eliminated that leak.

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