Meet Madeline — Stroke at age 16
Madeline was a healthy, beautiful, and talented competitive figure skater when at age 16 an unknown aneurysm ruptured in her brain causing a hemorrhagic stroke. She was not expected to survive this massive bleed, and we were warned that if she did survive she might have serious life-long disabilities. Against all of the odds she did survive and (with the help of two physical therapists) she walked around the ICU floor 21 days after rupture. Remarkably, Madeline only needed three weeks of inpatient rehab before recovering her physical abilities. But her recovery was far from over. She needed extensive therapy for memory and processing. Meeting Madeline for the first time you would never know that she has a disability (until she repeats herself).
Madeline returned to high school in the middle of her junior year and she struggled to remember even the location of her classrooms. Teachers and administrators had never had a student like Madeline, so they didn’t understand brain injury, or the concept of an invisible disability. With the help of classroom aides and a combination of special education and regular education classes, Madeline graduated with her class.
Madeline also returned to the ice just four months post stroke. Her body remembered how to skate but she struggled to learn new choreography. This was a devastating blow because she was a very talented and dedicated figure skater. She continued to skate with her synchronized skating team through graduation, but her dreams of skating in college were crushed.
Madeline is currently enrolled in community college and taking it one class at a time. Since striking out on her own in college, Madeline has developed severe anxiety due to her memory loss. To combat her anxiety, Madeline is currently helping at a local horse stable. The owner is building a therapeutic petting zoo and her new pygmy goats need bottle feedings. Madeline is at the stable several days a week now to feed and “love on” these baby goats. Since beginning at the stable, we have seen a reduction in her anxiety and definitely an increase in her happiness.
Most people outside of the stroke, aneurysm, and brain recovery world do not understand the invisible disabilities that our survivors will struggle with for the rest of their lives. You survived, you look fine, you should be fine. But, to the contrary, recovery is a long and difficult road. Madeline and I now volunteer for the Joe Niekro Foundation. The foundation supports survivors and caregivers and spreads awareness of the risk factors of aneurysms. We have connected with other families like us, and the foundation has changed our lives.
Madeline is one of the very fortunate ones who survived, and now it is important for us to tell our story and spread awareness. Thank you for allowing us to share our journey.
Marcy
Mom to Madeline
Tips from Madeline’s mom for parenting a teen stroke survivor:
1- Find a community- you will probably need to search online. You need to find others who have walked this journey and are on a similar path. The doctors who saved our kid’s lives don’t have the resources for long term recovery. They just haven’t dealt with a lot of kids yet. Once you realize you are not alone it changes everything!!
2- Always be the momma bear and question everything!!! Especially when your child returns to school- don’t just take what they offer. Most schools are not equipped to deal with the needs your child may have post stroke. This is where the community becomes helpful. You may need to hire an advocate to help you through the school years.
3- Stroke recovery is measured in years, not months.
Most importantly- don’t put time lines on what you hope for. Our kids can’t make those normal milestones. Each path is unique.
