Prognosis for my husband who suffered AVM hemorrage

[lovingwife39]

My husband recently suffered a ruptured AVM in the cerebellum area of his brain and was given no hope of a recovery.  He miraculously came out of the coma on the same day we had decided to remove life support.  In the first 8 hours out of the coma, he had some strong responses to stimuli (he grabbed my hand when I tried to pull away), but then fell back into the coma for several more days.  He has reawakened and is stable, on a trache tube breathing on his own, has a stomach peg, and will soon have a shunt to drain cerebral fluid.  His responses now are very weak compared to the day he came out of the coma and he does not respond to me in any way.  He does intermintently lift two fingers on his right hand and opens his right eye to commends from his docs/nurses.  He does not appear to be able to see me, but I see him attempting to track to something while I speak to him.  I ask the critical care team how he is doing and they are just so negative about his prognosis, saying things like the less he continues to do each day, the further back he'll be in his recovery.  I am hoping someone with experience with this type of injury might have an encouraging story to tell me, particularly with someone that has very few functions 20 days post op.  My husband is 39 years old and a father of two young boys.  

[breezyjeans]

I am so sorry to hear about your husband. The good thing is that he has youth on his side. I have worked with patients in their 20's that have had AVM hemorrhages and have not recovered fully, but are still alive, living at home with family and communicating. It was a long road that was not easy, but they are still here. Keep postive thoughts. If he starts to wake up more and is able to follow some commands. Ask if a speech therapist can evaluate him to see if he can communicate basic wants/needs. Good luck!

[vja]

Your husband has his age on his side.  I have seen many stroke patients who have done quite well. They were mostly the young.  Take care of yourself.  It may be a long haul, but he has youth and strength.

[vega1318]

Sorry to hear about your husband.  The truth is, all the above posters are right:  he has age on his side.   BUT...  the best outcome in these situations can sometimes still be poor and you have to hear what the doctors are telling you.  Would your husband want to be in a state where he could hear and see but could not move or speak effectively?  Would he want to be dependent on feeding tubes and tracheostomy ventilators in order to breathe?  If yes, then you have to fight for him and hope for the best.   If the answer is "no," then you have to respect his wishes.  

I wish you and your family luck and strength.

[theflyjd]

I had my first stroke in 1988 (I was 37) and it took me several years to recuperate but I did. Hopefully, your husband will, too. Since my first stroke (I've had 3 more since) I have graduated from law school and participated in 6 Marathons. Your husband's age is in his favor. His body has the youthful vigor to overcome this and he is so very lucky to have a wife who gives her strenghth to him in this battle. I wish you both the very best of luck.

[patichita]

My Mother age 79 died from a hemorrage stroke on 07/15/2007. She would have been 80 on 07/16/2007. She woke up on the morning of July 13th and went to the bathroom about 2:30am and
was complaining of a severe headache and sick to her stomach. Just a few minutes  later she had a stroke was taken to the hospital in Corsican Texas and then was Care Flighted to Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler where she was put an a Ventilator. Me and my two sisters had to make the  decision to pull the  tube on Sunday the 15th  she lived 30 minutes after we pulled the  tube . She was brain dead almost with in 1 day after the  stroke . The good  thing is that the Doctors and nurses at Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler were the  best. They assured us that she  didn't suffer.
She had hypertension, old age and diabetes . She is missed.

[Born-Again Man]

Four years ago I suffered a ruptured AVM  in the cerebellum area of my brain.  I was placed on life support, the Dr.s  were not giving no hope at all to my family. during stay in Nicu i got phemonia , and they were telling my wife and our three children that i was not going to make it through the night. My family talked to King Jesus, and the next morning my lungs were clear, three days latter i came out of the coma that i was in for 2 months,  the First words out of my trach were god Himself was here make sure no one gets the glory but Jesus Christ..The Docs were dumb founded they told my wife ( Prime Rib ) that they were going to attempt to repair the damage caused by AVM, they had done embolusations  and when they had stayballized  me they went in only to have to come out because of all the blood that had settled in that area of my brain.  Two days latter when they re- entered  All of the vessels that had ruptured were   re attached. :) The docs were amazed the Cheif neuro surgon came out saying God had done a Miracle. Don't give up HOPE, Place your faith in the God who made the Heavens and the Earth and every thing there in, He has Promised that He will Never Leave you Nor Forsake you in  this time of great dispair hand on to JESUS, why? because Jesus Cares for YOU.. I'll be praying for you and your' Family.
No matter what your going through JESUS Loves You and Your Husband To : )
My name is
Y.T
***@****

For God so Loved you that He gave His only begotten Son that if You believe in Him Jesus you would not perish but have everlasting LIFE..

[slang144]

My dad had an AVM cerebral hemorage just last month.  It can be so frustrating to live in the "grey zone."  You just don't know if you should prepare for the worst or hope for the best and even that you do not know.  My dad is doing the same things as your husband.  Just know that saying "I love you" to him can never be said too often.  

[colin64]

it still amases me  that the plasticety of the human brain can be so resiliant to severe traumer and that i im sure that your husband is still learning to reprogram, & re eqiant himself with his new,found awairnes surroundings,& sences although this seems to me as if it will still, take, some, time. my thougts are with you.

[colin64]

in2005, i had a motercycl accedent & was in a coma for 5 days,& spent several weeks in intensive care, before comming round, or back to life. i then spent a ferther year & a half in rehab at the godwin unit in haselmere befor i was released & back home. since then, i have found that life is hard, but you learn, to get on with things(day to day) as we all do .

[colin64]

inserdentialy i sufferd a corotid artery dissection

[lacey289]

My husband died 6 days after his stroke I justt buried him on April 10,2008. I am confused because they told me he was going to be ok  He was on dialysis, his heart just stopped, he had uncontrolled hypertension. My prayers are with you