A sister’s words: The athlete who couldn’t be tamed by a brain hemorrhage

When my 14-year-old sister Carly woke up on February 1, 2015, she thought about what snacks she wanted while she watched the Patriots play in the Super Bowl that night. She thought about whether there would be pancakes for breakfast. She thought about whether to go for her daily run or whether she should ride the stationary bike. Just the week before, she’d shattered her personal best time in winter track: a 5:32 mile. After pedaling on the bike for a few minutes, there was a sharp pain on the right side of her head. Within minutes, Carly became lethargic, unresponsive and in serious pain. Sensing something wasn’t right, our Mom and Dad called 911. She was brought to Cape Cod Hospital where Dr. Brett Sylvia ordered an immediate CT scan. He returned hurriedly and explained that Carly had suffered a brain hemorrhage and needed to be med-flighted to Boston Children’s Hospital immediately. It was all a blur. She’s healthy; she’s incredible. Bleeding in the brain? Not possible. She’s going to be fine. Dr. Ed Smith from Neurosurgery met our family in the ER, briefly explaining that Carly’s condition was life-threatening and time was of the essence. He needed to take her to surgery immediately. My parents, brother and I rushed our I-love-you, Carly, and watched her disappear behind elevator doors. Seven hours later, Dr. Smith found us in a family waiting room. He explained she had an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) that had burst in her right temporal lobe and caused ...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Our patients’ stories Source Type: news