Thousands of Babies Have Strokes Annually

WASHINGTON - It looked like a seizure when little Alexzandra Gonzales jerked and then went limp, barely breathing. A frantic race to the hospital led to a diagnosis her parents found hard to believe: Just days before her first birthday, she had had a stroke.
"We never knew that children could have strokes," says her mother, Amanda Gonzales.

It's a common misconception, yet several thousand U.S. children a year suffer strokes — and some specialists fear they're on the rise. Only now are efforts under way to detect strokes faster in these smallest patients and begin figuring out how to treat them, to help rescue their brains.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051206/ap_on_he_me/childhood_strokes

My oldest son suffered a stroke when he was 9 years old due to a vascular abnormality. We were very lucky that he survived.

Mabel said:

My oldest son suffered a stroke when he was 9 years old due to a vascular abnormality. We were very lucky that he survived.

Click to expand...

Gosh Mabel, that is just frightening.
I am learning more than I want to know about strokes these days. I had a friend who had a stroke last year , at 41, as a result of chiropractic manipulation.

JBean said:

Gosh Mabel, that is just frightening.
I am learning more than I want to know about strokes these days. I had a friend who had a stroke last year , at 41, as a result of chiropractic manipulation.

Click to expand...

I've learned that many of us have vascular malformations, like little time bombs, hiding in our brains waiting to erupt. For some people it may never happen, for others, like my ex-husband's aunt, it blew up from the pressure of "pushing" while she was giving birth. My son was simply sitting in the school auditorium watching a presentation when his erupted. One train of thought says that once you've had a stroke due to a vascular malformation, you're less likely to have one again as the damaged vein dies and seals itself off. Other doctors feel that once you've had one, you're likely to have another. We lived in fear for a long long time that my son might have another stroke. I found out later that he went to bed many nights fearing he wouldn't wake up in the morning.

It took many years, but he seems totally recovered now. He was set back a few years socially and academically which was really a shame because he tests at near genius level in most fields. He finally earned his associates degree at the age of 24 - with all A's.

Mabel said:

I've learned that many of us have vascular malformations, like little time bombs, hiding in our brains waiting to erupt. For some people it may never happen, for others, like my ex-husband's aunt, it blew up from the pressure of "pushing" while she was giving birth. My son was simply sitting in the school auditorium watching a presentation when his erupted. One train of thought says that once you've had a stroke due to a vascular malformation, you're less likely to have one again as the damaged vein dies and seals itself off. Other doctors feel that once you've had one, you're likely to have another. We lived in fear for a long long time that my son might have another stroke. I found out later that he went to bed many nights fearing he wouldn't wake up in the morning.

It took many years, but he seems totally recovered now. He was set back a few years socially and academically which was really a shame because he tests at near genius level in most fields. He finally earned his associates degree at the age of 24 - with all A's.

Click to expand...

I know a handful of young women that have succumbed to their "time bomb", that's exactly what it is too. It's downright scary if one dwells on it.
The story of your son is so bittersweet. His successes mean so much more based on where he's been, but it sure is hard on your day to day life while you are living it.
I'm happy your story has such a great ending Mabel. :blowkiss:

Thank, Bean. It was a very difficult time for all of us, especially since I'd had my daughter by c-section just a few days before his stroke. I'm proud of what he's accomplished, although I think it's about time I give him a swift kick in the behind to motivate him to move on with his life now. I hope your friend is recovering well.

Mabel said:

Thank, Bean. It was a very difficult time for all of us, especially since I'd had my daughter by c-section just a few days before his stroke. I'm proud of what he's accomplished, although I think it's about time I give him a swift kick in the behind to motivate him to move on with his life now. I hope your friend is recovering well.

Click to expand...

Oh my! What an emotional roller coaster you must have been on!
Swift kicks are almost always in order for my group.:angel:
One friend is recovering ok. She still cannot swallow well, has no sensitvity to hot and cold on one side of her body and her balance is way off. I'm afraid it is as good as it's going to get. But all are grateful for as far as she has come.
My other friend has been rehabbing for a long time but she was in a much darker situation. While she is coming along, I am afarid she may not improve as much as was hoped.

Mabel said:

I've learned that many of us have vascular malformations, like little time bombs, hiding in our brains waiting to erupt. For some people it may never happen, for others, like my ex-husband's aunt, it blew up from the pressure of "pushing" while she was giving birth. My son was simply sitting in the school auditorium watching a presentation when his erupted. One train of thought says that once you've had a stroke due to a vascular malformation, you're less likely to have one again as the damaged vein dies and seals itself off. Other doctors feel that once you've had one, you're likely to have another. We lived in fear for a long long time that my son might have another stroke. I found out later that he went to bed many nights fearing he wouldn't wake up in the morning.

It took many years, but he seems totally recovered now. He was set back a few years socially and academically which was really a shame because he tests at near genius level in most fields. He finally earned his associates degree at the age of 24 - with all A's.

Click to expand...

WOW...very cool!