Ava's AVM Journey
Donation protected
This is my amazing niece, Ava Cheney. She is the daughter of my twin sister Danielle and her husband Dan. On Memorial Day, this past Monday, Ava her cousins and friend were enjoying some outside time. The inflatable waterslide had been set up and the kids were having a blast! At around 4:00 the fun was winding down. Ava approached her mom and said that her right arm "wasn't working". She was laughing at the time so her parents thought she was joking around. The joke went on too long and soon she could no longer move her right leg either.
Ava was rushed by her parents to Mercy Hospital where a CT scan was quickly completed. Soon after, they were informed by the ER staff that Ava's condition was very serious. She had bleeding on her brain and would be taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. There, an MRI was also done which confirmed the diagnosis of bleeding, although the cause was still uncertain.
Ava was admitted into the PICU of Children's Hospital where she remains today. On Thursday, June 2nd, she was placed under anesthesia and an Angiogram was performed. At last, the family had a diagnosis.
It was discovered that Ava had an AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation). This is what had caused the bleeding in her brain.
At this time, her prognosis is uncertain. Ava still does not have the use of her right arm and leg as the blood that is present in her brain is pressing on the area that controls movement on that side of her body. It is very important that her blood pressure remains stable in order to prevent further bleeding, so her activity and movement are extremely limited. We do know that she will remain at Children's Hospital for at least another two weeks before any treatment (other than rehabilitation) can be performed. This is because the doctors want to ensure that Ava has regained as much strength and healed as much as is possible. Several treatment options are being discussed by her team of specialists, including surgery on her brain.
Ava is a beautiful, caring, smart young girl. She is always active and is very involved with the North Metro Soccer Association as a U9 player. It's difficult to watch such a vibrant young girl be confined to a hospital bed.
It's hard to feel helpless in these situations, and this page is one way I felt that I could help. The financial burden will be large. All money donated will be to assist in any care that Ava will need in the coming months. Hospital bills, therapy, missed work from her parents, changes to their home that may be needed, etc. Any well wishes, words of support or encouragemet will be gladly passed on to her. Thank you for taking the time to read about Ava's story.
Dallas
Ava was rushed by her parents to Mercy Hospital where a CT scan was quickly completed. Soon after, they were informed by the ER staff that Ava's condition was very serious. She had bleeding on her brain and would be taken by ambulance to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. There, an MRI was also done which confirmed the diagnosis of bleeding, although the cause was still uncertain.
Ava was admitted into the PICU of Children's Hospital where she remains today. On Thursday, June 2nd, she was placed under anesthesia and an Angiogram was performed. At last, the family had a diagnosis.
It was discovered that Ava had an AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation). This is what had caused the bleeding in her brain.
At this time, her prognosis is uncertain. Ava still does not have the use of her right arm and leg as the blood that is present in her brain is pressing on the area that controls movement on that side of her body. It is very important that her blood pressure remains stable in order to prevent further bleeding, so her activity and movement are extremely limited. We do know that she will remain at Children's Hospital for at least another two weeks before any treatment (other than rehabilitation) can be performed. This is because the doctors want to ensure that Ava has regained as much strength and healed as much as is possible. Several treatment options are being discussed by her team of specialists, including surgery on her brain.
Ava is a beautiful, caring, smart young girl. She is always active and is very involved with the North Metro Soccer Association as a U9 player. It's difficult to watch such a vibrant young girl be confined to a hospital bed.
It's hard to feel helpless in these situations, and this page is one way I felt that I could help. The financial burden will be large. All money donated will be to assist in any care that Ava will need in the coming months. Hospital bills, therapy, missed work from her parents, changes to their home that may be needed, etc. Any well wishes, words of support or encouragemet will be gladly passed on to her. Thank you for taking the time to read about Ava's story.
Dallas
Organizer and beneficiary
Dallas Conway-Stoeckman
Organizer
Andover, MN
Danielle Cheney
Beneficiary
