Kray was a typical boy playing football (soccer to us Yanks) with his friends on June 6th 2008. He felt a slight pain located in the top area of his head after being hit by a soccer ball. Kray had experienced bad headaches in the past and thought little of it, instead heading in after his mother called him for tea. Obviously out of sorts, his mother asked if he was ok. Kray advised that he was fine, but was experiencing one of his headaches and was a little dizzy. Thinking no more of it, Kray went to his room to watch a DVD. As he prepared for bed, Kray felt numbness in his arm and hand. Thinking it was nothing more than the result of laying on it while watching a movie, he went to bed. Kray woke early the next morning to discover he was paralyzed down the left side of his body. Unable to stand, he fell from his bed; he tried to call for his parents but could only groan. Harry, Kray’s younger brother heard him trying to call for help and went to wake his parents. An ambulance conveyed Kray to Bristol Children’s Hospital. The ambulance personnel did not know what was causing the symptoms of paralysis, suggesting it may be a pinched nerve. His parents tried to comfort him as he was transported to the hospital where he received an emergency computed tomography scan (CT Scan). Not equipped to deal with Kray’s condition, he was transported via ambulance to Frenchay Hospital in Frenchay, South Gloucestershire (Bristol, England). He was taken to their High Dependency Ward (our version of ICU). There, Kray lost conciousness and had to be ventilated. He was taken for an emergency angiogram in attempts to diagnose the cause of Kray’s distress.
The angiogram revealed that Kray had an arteriovenus malformation (AVM) that had ruptured. The rupture had resulted in a substantial bleed and subsequent blood clot. The clot had caused a massive stroke. The prognosis was grave; Kray’s chances for survival were not hopefull. Dr. Michael Carter, Kray’s surgeon placed an external ventrical drain in Kray’s skull in an attempt to relieve pressure to his brain. The procedure took four hours. Medical staff advised Kray’s parents that he was in critical condition; it was determined that the AVM had ruptured twice. These ruptures had resulted in intra-cranial bleeding as well. Kray’s condition deteriorated the following day. The family was told to expect major open brain surgery the following morning. Kray could hardly speak, was numb on his left side and was experiencing a great deal of pain. Kray was understandably frightend; his family did what they could to prepare him for the impending surgery.
Kray’s operation lasted eight hours. His parents noted that a nurse who had accompanied Kray into the operating room (they refere to her as their “angel”) came to them and advised that he had survived the procedure. For the next 48 hours, his parents watched Kray fight to live. His condition deteriorated prompting the medical team to perform another CT scan that revealed Kray’s brain was swelling uncontrollably; he was in immense pain. Kray was placed in an induced coma and placed on life – support for 36 hours. The prognosis was grim – it was anticipated that the brain swelling would result in additional brain damage. As if to add insult to injury, Kray was tested for menengitis; his ventilation had resulted in a chest infection.
Almost two days later, Kray was slowly brought out of the medically enduced coma. The results were amazing! Kray gained full conciousness and for all appearances was the same as prior to the incident. It appeared that he had experienced no additional brain damage as the result of the swelling.
The blood clot (located in the right frontal region of his brain) has resulted in speech issues as well as left – side hemipalegia. Kray spent two months at the Frenchay Hospital where he received intensive therapies. He continues to receive occupational therapy every week and continues to build strength on his left side through various activities including swimming.
Today, Kray serves as an example that early detection and medical intervention can substantially reduce the long term affects of pediatric stroke.
For overcoming what most would deem insurmountable, persevering when faced with life-threatening circumstances, this month marking two years as a STROKE SURVIVOR and continuing to demonstrate how children can experience amazing post – stroke recovery when we are AWARE that STROKES happen in CHILDREN (even the UNBORN) Kray has been chosen as our June 2010 Stroke Hero of the Month!
