
Brain AVM
Donation protected
This is for my daughter, Lori. Her and her husband, JT, have 3 children. She got dizzy and was walking crooked at work one day and ended up at the emergency department. After getting a CT Scan and ruling out a stroke, they originally said she had vertigo, then they came back in and said they noticed something in the CT and suggested a follow up with the primary care physician. The doctor suggested getting an MRI with contrast. The MRI showed a brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and she was directed to contact a neurosurgeon.
A brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in the brain. The arteries are responsible or taking oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain. Veins carry the oxygen-depleted blood back to the lungs and heart. A brain AVM disrupts this vital process. These are rare and affect less than 1 percent of the population.
After talking to the neurosurgeon, he did a brain angiogram to see exactly where the problem was and what he was dealing with before making any recommendations. He confirmed the AVM and noted that the veins are too thin to handle that much blood flow and are ballooning out in different areas which if they rupture can have devastating results. The only way to completely remove the AVM is to have surgery.
Tomorrow, June 22nd she is have an Endovascular embolization done to try and block the artery and reduce blood flow to the AVM. On Thursday, June 23rd she is undergoing a resection. The neurosurgeon will remove part of her skull to gain access and will seal off the AVM with special clips and carefully remove it from surrounding brain tissue.
She will be in the ICU for several days, depending on her recovery. There are many risks with the surgery, including infection, neurological impairment and stroke.
She will be out of work for a while and when and if she returns to work will probably be only part time for a while. Full recovery can take anywhere up to 6-8 months. The cost of this surgery can go up to around $100,000 and they are not sure what all will be covered with their insurance.
They are going to need help with their monthly bills as well since it will be basically only JT’s salary.
Please keep them in your prayers and any donation will be greatly appreciated.

Organizer and beneficiary
Barbara Eichelsbacher
Organizer
Bethel Park, PA
Lori Santelli
Beneficiary