Anna's Journey with Moyamoya Disease

My nine year old niece, Anna (daughter of Greg and Rebecca "Becky" Kincaid), started experiencing severe headaches at the end of July. She was evaluated at Christie Clinic and had an MRI performed. The MRI results made the providers think that it was encephalitis. Anna was taken to Carle Hospital in Champaign where she had an MRA that showed blockage of both internal carotid arteries. Anna was referred to Anna and Robert H. Lurie’s Children’s Hospital in Chicago where she had a consult. At this time, she was diagnosed with a disease called Moyamoya Disease. This disease consists of a narrowing of vessels that causes blood clots to develop. These clots could eventually cause strokes. Anna was then scheduled for surgery. This surgery consisted of taking a vessel from Anna’s face and laying it on the brain to hopefully increase blood flow to the carotids. Anna had her first surgery on Aug 26th. She did amazing!!! She had her next surgery on September 25th. This surgery went well, too! We will not know if the surgeries were successful until around 6 months. At that time, they will do additional imaging to look at the vessels. Since the diagnosis, Anna has been experiencing slurred speech and arm weakness which is likely due to TIA’s (“mini strokes”.)  Anna is currently at Anna and Robert H. Lurie’s Children’s Hospital as she keeps having episodes of weakness and slurred speech. She has had a right-sided stroke and now left-sided stroke that occurred Tuesday 10/1.  She has been lying flat and started on a new medication to help control her blood pressure. Anna have been a trooper through this whole experience! She is so knowledgeable about her condition and is an amazing advocate for herself!

This GoFundMe page was started to help out my sister and her family as they have been going through this very scary time. The funds raised will go to help with traveling expenses, medical bills, and other needs of the family.

I, on behalf of our family, want to thank everyone for their continued support and prayers as Anna fights this disease!