Saving Steve’s Brain

This is my son Steve.  In 2010 he survived not one but two ruptures in his brain.  Life as he knew it was forever changed.  He was in a coma and literally had to relearn to live as if he was an infant.  Walk. Talk. Eat. Read.  Everything we all take for granted he had to learn. He went on to graduate from college and just decided to go back to school to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant. He wants to be able to help others the way he was helped.  We thought the worse was over until in July he had a routine angiogram which unfortunately revealed another aneurysm feeding his AVM.  He felt his hopes and dreams crumbling around him.  His neurosurgeon informed us today that he consulted with his pediatric neurosurgeon and they agreed he will need another Angio in October to make sure this aneurysm didn’t grow or isn’t growing at a rapid pace.  This means constant monitoring which means constant medical bills.  He has put himself through college and is putting himself through OTA school and only works part time. Any help would be greatly appreciated so he can continue to be monitored and if need be (if the aneurysm grows) he will have to have another  brain surgery. He doesn’t deserve this. He should be able to focus on school and not have to worry about anything else.  The doctors call him a medical miracle so let’s help him stay that way. The AVM can’t be removed because it’s at the base of his brain stem so it will be a constant worry but a future bleed can be prevented with constant monitoring and aneurysm coiling.   For those who are wondering an AVM means  a cluster of bundled up veins in your brain that you are born with and don’t know you have  unless it ruptures.  Please help Steve stay healthy and accomplish amazing things.