Mom thought she was going to ‘lose’ her 6-year-old after misdiagnosis led to paralysis—a Google search saved him
A mother’s heart will go to any length to help her baby. Her determination can become a saving grace in unimaginable ways. When Casey Daniel learned that her 6-year-old son, Witten, was going through unbearable pain and complications due to a health issue, she tried getting several doctors’ opinions and diagnoses, KCBD 11 revealed. The doctors initially believed that the boy had the flu, but when the symptoms persisted and things grew worse, she knew she had to take matters into her own hands. She did everything she could to figure out what was wrong with her son — even looking up the internet, and that’s when she stumbled upon life-saving guidance.
The 6-year-old was admitted after complaining of dizziness and a headache, The New York Post revealed. The doctors noted that it was the flu, but within 24 hours, his condition worsened. He was finding it hard to walk and breathe and was in terrible pain. Eventually, he went unconscious, and the doctors had to intubate him to help him breathe. “I thought I was going to lose him,” Casey remarked. While medics were trying to figure out what went wrong, the mom started looking up on the internet. As she glanced through anything that had answers for her son’s symptoms, she chanced upon an article by Dr. Jacques Morcos, a neurosurgeon at UTHealth Houston.
The desperate mom sent the surgeon an email after which she was advised that Witten be moved to Dr. Morcos’ facility. There, she finally received a confirmed diagnosis that left her shattered — cavernous malformation. According to Mayo Clinic, the term refers to irregular small blood vessels present in the brain or spinal cord. It can cause a leakage or a hemorrhage. The Alliance to Cure Cavernous Malformation reported that one in 500 people has such clusters. Witten’s health was deteriorating and he started suffering from seizures and strokes. His condition was unbearable and the grieving mom was ready to do whatever it took to save him.
View this post on Instagram
She rushed him to Dr. Morcos, where he and pediatric neurosurgeon Manish Shah performed an emergency surgery. Sharing on her Instagram, the mom revealed the tedious and painful process it was for Witten and the family. From being unresponsive, struggling to breathe and in terrible pain, the boy was finally on his path to recovery. He slowly began moving again. In a post, the mom revealed that he was off the ventilator during most of the day and was also able to sit in his chair. Slowly and steadily, things started falling into place. From a complete chaotic hell to a nightmare, the family was now able to see hope on the horizon.
View this post on Instagram
In another post, the mom shared that she is delighted that her unusual discovery helped save her son’s life. She also shared a message for fellow parents. “My momma instincts saved my son’s life. And I will scream from the rooftops from here till my dying day…. ADVOCATE FOR YOUR CHILD! In everything you do! If you feel like something is wrong… take them in… if you feel like more needs to be done, ask more questions. And if you are told nothing can be done, get a second opinion! Don’t take no for an answer because your child's life depends on it,” she wrote.
You can follow Casey Daniel (@caseyarend) on Instagram for more content on parenting.