My 23 year old son suffered from a ruptured brain aneurysm in his basilar artery, He must have had it for quite a while since he had been complaning of sinus headaches
He is in the Coast Guard and stationed in Jacksonsville Beach Fla, His aneursym ruptured June 5 2011. The aneurysm is approxinately 23mm ( about an inch ). He was rushed to surgery and coils were put in the aneurysm and that occluded approx. 90%. He has been unstable ever since with the pressures ( Intracranial and blood ). His hemoglobin has dropped and now his lungs are starting to collaspe, Since he is unstable it is hard to " wake " him up to see what kind of deficits he has. He is in the Mayo clinic and the doctors,and staff are great! But today is Day 18 and the longer he stays down the more complications he has, He had a crainiectomy last week to relieve the pressure, Now the pressures are more stable. Vasospasms have been minimal as he had an angioplasty to open the vessels, Later down the road he will need a clip on the basliar artery, I just want him to wake up Thank you for your support.
Dear Noel...I am so sorry that I, and others, did not respond to you until your second contact....Please forgive us...we who have other limitations...
Your son is blessed to be in the Mayo Clinic....presumably, based on their reputation...
I want you to know how much we all care...Your son not only has an aneurysm/health care issues, he is also one of our protectors...willing to give his young life for our protection...
This is an extremely emotional time for you for your son...and, for us all
Please forgive me if I have not said things clearly...There are other parents with much younger children (not yet serving our country with their life) who I pray will connect with you....
And, please forgive me for anything not said clearly...forgive us all for not responding/connecting with you on this, your first, connection to us... our intent, goal, is to be here to support one another...
You, your son, and family are in our thoughts and prayers. I have been reading a lot since my aneurysm ruptured on May 22. People in your son’s condition have recovered. He went into this young and strong which are two huge pluses and you can’t beat the Mayo clinic. Holding on from one day to the next is sometimes the hardest thing to do and the only thing we can do. There is hope.
I had a 5mm rupture on April 6, 2011.... I was put in a coma for approx. 2 weeks because of being agitated and pulling at tubes. ...My family told me the waiting, watching and wondering(about my condition upon waking) was horrible.... They also talked about feeling so helpless....When I woke up, I was emotionally about 5 years old for about 2 weeks, then turned 53 again....Since then, I have pulled on all my supports: baf website, church, family, friends and a therapist. I urge you to also use all your supports! It has helped me so much and I know it will help you too....I am praying for you and your son's recovery.
keeping the prayers coming for ur sons recovery n strength for u n ur family…his brain may need more downtime to recover,i know when i was in the hospital they told my husband to ask friends n family to hold off on visiting becuz my brain n body needed rest it was very crucial for my recovery…so please keep ur faith up n prayers going to our Lord above,hes listening n is doing whats best to make him well…
Noel- I had a ruptured aneurysm March 2011- coma for 37 days-many times they (Dr's) thought I "wasn't going to make it"....or if I did, the prognosis was grim (to say the least..)...I am coming up on my 1 year anniversary of being released from the hospital (!)...many, too many, surgeries later and I am feeling (almost, Left drop foot and leg issues) as I did prior to the rupture...and, according to my records, it was classified as a Grade V !!! I am proof that miracles do happen!
I believe in the power of prayer and good thought......
Thank you for sharing. I look back almost 4 weeks ago and everything was so grim. Sean has opened his eyes and radomly moves his arms. I am with him almost 24/7.I talk to him, tell him who called. massage his feet. For almost the first 3 weeks I was unable to speak to him or touch him because his Intracranial pressures were sky high. I had a good night with him two nights ago, actually had him laughing for a hour with his eyes and belly laughs by telling him jokes and now for the last 2 days there is hardly a look that lets me know he is there, but it is one day at a time and i take each blink, each movement as a miracle and a prayer answered. Noel
Just wanted to let you know how much your story and experience has strengthened me. I too am facing the same up hill battle with a loved one. Reading your posts has given me so much hope when so many others are painting such a bleak picture. Please keep us all updated!! You and your son are constantly in my thoughts....
Noel-Sean is blessed to have you "keeping vigil" it is so important...my husband & family rented an apartment in the city so there was a place to "crash" (no one lived close by) and made sure that there was someone at the hospital (UCSF) on my behalf at all times- realistically probably 5-8 hrs/day....They also "had faith" and knew it was "not my time'....I had people, literally, all over the country praying for me...There is a prayer website, I think it is called CareingBridge and someone set up a site on my behalf there as well...Continue to do what you are doing, have hope and faith..One thing I have learned through all of this is that the medical profession is still learning about the power of the brain and body to overcome great adversity....Medically, there is NO reason why I should be sitting here typing this too you-I will keep Sean in my prayers- Dana
Thank you . I have been with Sean 24/7. for 26 days( except shower time and a rare nap here and there) I have seen so many positive changes> The doctors and staff at Mayo have been awesome!!.He is breathing on his on with the trach. and they tried the speaking valve today for a short period of time . PT and Ot working with him everyday. We are going ti put a Coast Guard patch on his cap.
The first weeks post aneurysm are so very hard, climbing one hurdle after another one minute to the next. It was the most difficult time. Every day gets better. Keeping constant vigil, constantly gaining more and more medical knowledge. To others just starting...... hang in there.....surprises at every turn. For all your support, I THANK YOU! and see light at the end of the tunnel....Noel
In the begining.... it is shear hell, raw and emotional.Taking it all in and keeping on top of everything. When you first come in to the hospital the patient's chart is a couple of pages after 3 weeks it is a book . Having different nurses all the time is frustrating because I felt like I was educating them about my son. The only constant person in my Son's life is Me and having a little medical backround helped. Some nurses are more on top of there game then others and some I bond with more than others. When the nurse stops and listens to what I have to say the care for Sean goes leaps and bounds. The staff needs to realize that the family is a vital part of the patients total care and need to use the family as a help instead a hinderance. One moment at a time...Noel
Dana...thank you for bringing up CaringBridge...I was not involved in CaringBridge personally; however, became familiar with it from others...It is somewhat like this site; and, it helps, may help, the families with contributions.
We are on day 27 post rupture. Next Tuesday the doctors are going to place a pipe stent in Sean’s basiliar artery …when they did the coils the aneurysm was only 90% occulded. Sean has been making progress. He now has just a trach collar… NO VENT! He can give a thumbs up with his left hand and the “peace sign”.he moves his right are , but it does not follow commands. No movement in his legs. When he hears a funny story he will laugh and we rush to tell him more funny stories. He does this once or twice a day! So slow but sure, the brain is amazing!!! Noel
A site I cherish for its anatomy and explanations is TAAF ... the Aneurysm and AVM Foundation
It has the most magnificent anatomy, and more, of the brain... go to www.aneurysmfoundation.org ... it is one of the easiest to read/comprehend...to begin the basics...of our brain and cerebral arteries...