#FightLikeMaddy Brain AVM Awareness
In the early morning hours of September 25th our lives changed forever.
Maddy was taken to the ER, and after a CT scan, taken by ambulance to Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, NC. She has Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM). It is a vascular malformation (abnormal network of blood vessels) where arteries shunt directly into veins instead of going through a bed of capillaries. This disfigurement of blood vessels lead to more blood flowing through, placing larger strains on the walls of the blood vessels. The walls of the blood vessels affected by AVMs are very often much weaker than normal vessels, and may cause ruptures (hemorrhages) from which blood leaks out, possibly causing damage to the surrounding areas. When Maddy’s bleed occurred it causes her to have multiple seizures. Her AVM is quite large at 33.8mm. AVM's are extremely rare and only affect 1% of the entire population.
She is currently being treated by Dr. Wait & Dr. Bernard with Carolina Neurology and Spine in Charlotte. The next step is surgery. On day one, she will undergo a catheter embolization, this surgically blocks blood vessel to prevent blood flow to the AVM. Day two, she will have neurosurgery via craniotomy to remove the AVM. The following morning they will do another catheter embolization to ensure the entire AVM has been removed. It is an all or nothing surgery so if there is any of the AVM remaining she will have to undergo a second craniotomy.
After surgery there is a chance the AVM can reform in her brain but the pros of surgery far out way the cons. She will remain on seizure medication for a few months after surgery and she will have to have yearly angiograms to ensure the AVM doesn’t return.
The outpouring of love, prayers and donations have been such a blessing. Without each of you by our side this journey we are now on would be that much harder. Please continue to pray for our extremely STRONG Maddy, our entire family and the surgery and hospital staff as they take care of her.
#maddystrong #fightlikemaddy #avmwontholdherdown #the1percent #avmawareness
