My son Scott has a vein of Galen aneurysm, located in the center of his brain. He is now 19 years old and was 8 months when we found out about it. Scott's eye started to bulge out the doctor thought it was a cancerous tumor and rushed us to the eye institute in Milwaukee Wisconsin, we are from Michigan. After a CT scan we were told about his AVM.
At the age of four years old, he started to have problems with his left side, he was left handed so back to the Milwaukee hospital. our neurosurgeon is Dr. Walsh. He did an angiogram, the second one since he was 8 months old, and we were told that the blood was going through the malformation and not to the right side of his brain. At that time in 1980, the only kind of surgery he could have was embolization. That is were a tube is inserted in the groin artery. When we first found out about Scott this surgery was only done in France by Dr. Bernstein. In 1983 he move to new York and started his practice. So with a 93% chance nothing should go wrong we had to go.
We stayed at the McDonald house. Scott had his surgery they blocked 40% of the malformation and Scott slipped into a coma. One month while still in a coma they put a shunt into his brain to relieve the water pressure. Scott stayed in a coma/semicomatose stage for 5 months when he recovered he was that of a stroke victim. Blind in his right eye and processes a little slow. Oh yes...he has a smile a mile long. He has had 4 shunts replacements and has not once complained about his life. He says he is thankful he is alive. He is graduating in two months. He is going to the prom next week.
We live day to day. When I go to sleep at night I thank God for giving me Scott one more day and when I wake up I run to his bed to see if he is alive and thank God again.
We had a neuroradiologist look at Scott's angiogram from 4 years ago and he said if it was his son he wouldn't do anymore surgery because of the location and the size. The doctor told me it was the size of a lemon it also has a loud pulse.
Probably the hardest thing for me is to know that my son is the only student at his high school disabled. But I have learned that I am the lucky one because I cherish the best gift I will ever get in my whole life, my Scott.
Please if you ever need to talk, I will understand.
God bless all of you.
Update 18 May 1999
I am enjoying all the wonderful support. I would like to share a miracle with you. About 2 months ago I was thinking as I often do how blessed I was to have such a wonderful son. One that never complains, never asks for anything, never gets disappointed, but has a smile everyday for everyone. he is the same way at school.
He is graduating this year and of course I was feeling sad about that because nothing really fun happened for him. No friends, no hero award, which I always thought the school could mustard up something since Scott was the only disabled student. So I was looking at the ceiling in my kitchen yelling at God. Telling Him how hard some days are but I took care of his son the best I could. and then I said, "Lord couldn't you have something fun happen for Scott." Well one week later Scott was asked to the prom by a classmate who I believe is an angel.
Well Saturday was his prom and we rented the 14 seated limousine. I figured he is going in style. And he can't drive so yippyyyyyy. Well we had 30 well-wishers at our house, just to see Scott and his date. At Scott's school parents and friends and family are invited to the Grand March. So of course Scott had 25 people there. When it came time to announce Scott and his date the crowd started to clap, yell, cheer, and then they all started to stand up. Excuse me while I cry. Well Scott started to cry and then being his funny self, he started to bow and then saluted the crowd. I was so proud of him. I thought he would be home at 12 o'clock and he called at 3 o'clock in the morning, he said, "Mom, I didn't want the night to end." His date told my she couldn't keep up with him at the dance.
Tonight (Monday) Scott was nominated for the Judge Hupy award which is for anyone overcoming adversities in their life. Scott doesn't know it yet. We are having the time of our life. so please tell others prayers do get answered.
God bless