Cadagan: Humor and tenacity after a stroke

Most parents try to discourage their children from indulging in humor about bodily functions like burping. But for Daniel and Lori Hooley, a simple smirk in response to a belch was the sign they needed that their daughter, Cadagan, was going to be okay. It was 2012 and 7-year-old Cadagan was asleep, tucked into bed for the night. Around 11 p.m., she suddenly awoke — but it wasn’t because of a nightmare or a late-night request for a glass of water. Instead, she seemed limp and couldn’t focus. Then she began throwing up. Born with an extremely rare genetic disorder called trisomy 12p, the little girl had already experienced her share of health challenges. But this was something different. Fearing the worst The Hooleys rushed their daughter to their local emergency room, which then transferred her to Boston Children’s Hospital when she remained minimally responsive. At first, clinicians believed she was having a seizure due to low sodium levels. But her mother Lori, a nurse herself, wasn’t convinced. “I knew it was something more,” says Lori. “I was concerned she’d had a stroke.” Sure enough, Dr. Michael Rivkin of Boston Children’s Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center explained to the Hooleys that Cadagan had suffered a stroke on the left side of her brain. She was diagnosed with cerebral vasculitis — inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain — which is believed to have triggered the stroke. Lori feared the worst. “I instantly thought, ‘Oh no, th...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Dr. Cameron Trenor Dr. Laura Lehman Dr. Michael Rivkin stroke Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center vasculitis Source Type: news