Archive for cavernous malformation
Defying the odds: Cruise’s triumph against cavernous malformations and debilitating headaches
As a toddler, Cruise — now 13 — faced a rare cancer diagnosis that came with an 11 percent chance of survival. But with his trademark resilience and strength of spirit, Cruise defied the daunting odds and beat his cancer. The battle left its mark though — in the form of cavernous malformations in his ... Read More
Like father, like daughter: Finding care for cavernous malformations
After Charlotte Miller underwent neurosurgery, her parents, Daniel and Eliza were a little nervous to tell her that part of her head had been shaved. But the spunky 5-year-old wasn’t fazed. Instead, she pointed to her father’s head and laughed, “Now I’m going bald like you, Daddy!” A sense of humor isn’t all Charlotte and ... Read More
Sharing our journey with cavernous malformations
Finley and her twin sister, Rowan, were born seven weeks premature on November 7, 2017 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In July 2019, Finley was diagnosed with a cavernous malformation, an abnormal mass of thin-walled blood vessels, in a part of her brain called the cerebellum. My wife, Jolene, and I were shocked. Although I was diagnosed ... Read More
Grace: Developing her inner ninja after brain surgery
The McGuigans were enjoying a family dinner at a favorite restaurant last October when their lives took an unexpected turn. In the middle of their meal, 4-year-old Grace suddenly developed a strange look on her face and started rhythmically moving her wrist. When she didn’t respond to her name, her parents, Christina and Nathan, knew ... Read More