05/21/2023
☆ Daniel’s story ~ Cavernous Malformations ☆
Around 1 am on May 19, 2018, Daniel began feeling great discomfort in his back while trying to sleep. As a healthy and active 19 y/o, he brushed it off as best as he could; but by 8 am, he no longer had motor control in his lower extremities. EMS swiftly rushed him to the ER where they performed various tests. By this point, the pain turned into full-body muscular spasms & convulsions with such an intensity that ribs were dislocated in the process. He was closely monitored as his body was exhibiting seizure & stroke-like symptoms, tho the tests were inconclusive. By the next morning, the loss of motor control progressed into the loss of feeling as well. Further MRI scans finally showed evidence of an uncontrollable bleed within his spinal cord, causing spinal stroke-like symptoms to occur. No one had any explanations as to what caused the bleed, when it would stop, and the permanency of its consequences.
Over the next few weeks, he was transferred to Shepherd’s Center & slowly began regaining sensation from the point of the bleed down—that is, until June 8th, when he had another “episode” that erased any progress made—and then some. Scans confirmed the presence of a 2nd bleed above the first. He was promptly transferred to John’s Hopkins center where a team of doctors from the Mayo Clinic was involved, but again, no one knew WHY. With a crushed spirit, he was reluctantly transferred back to Shepherd’s Center to adjust to his new way of life.
A couple months after the initial “episode,” he eventual received a diagnosis—he had two spinal cavernous malformations coupled with an intravenous anomaly that spontaneously bled out.
CMs, also known as cavernomas or cavernous angiomas are berry-like clusters of blood vessels that have abnormally thin vein walls, resulting in caverns into which blood pools. In rare cases, the blood builds up and compromises the weakened walls, causing a leakage or full-on bleed. Although CMs are somewhat common, it’s quite rare for them to pose any symptom or issue. They can be present anywhere but are most commonly found in the cerebrum &, even more rarely, the spinal cord. both the cause & cure for CMs are unknown. Surgical removal has been shown to be feasible for some, while others lack the ability on which to be operated.
Unfortunately for Daniel, his bleeding was seemingly much more rapid than most, causing severe, irreparable and inoperable damage that has deemed him a T8 complete paraplegic. But despite the odds, he has rebuilt a life for himself through faith that even I am still astounded by. He’s a husband and pup dad who works full time, lifts HEAVY, volunteers at church, and is a social butterfly.🦋😂 Life looks very different for him; he still finds himself discouraged & frustrated by his limitations at times, but he continues to hold to onto hope that God has & will continue to bring good from his story.
To anyone else suffering from a traumatic injury, chronic illness, or any other health condition, we would like to encourage you—
never EVER give up.🎗️
