A mom’s quick thinking decision to Google her son’s symptoms after he was diagnosed with the flu saved his life.
Witten Daniel, six, was rushed to hospital in Lubbock, Texas, on April 28 after his medical condition deteriorated.
Doctors initially suspected he had the flu, but within hours he had lost the ability to walk, talk or breathe on his own, his terrified mother Casey Daniel told WAFB.
‘There are no words to describe how horrifying it is to see your child in that kind of condition,’ she said.
After undergoing a series of further tests, doctors delivered a new, crushing diagnosis: Witten had cavernous malformation, otherwise known as cavernoma.
The condition occurs when a rare group of blood vessels begin to bleed into a patient’s brainstem.
He suffered multiple strokes and seizures during his stint in hospital.
Six-year-old Witten Daniel was rushed to hospital in Lubbock, Texas , on April 28 after his medical condition deteriorated
Doctors initially suspected he had the flu, but within hours he had lost the ability to walk, talk or breathe on his own, his terrified mother Casey Daniel revealed
Doctors told Casey Daniel there was little more they could do to improve Witten’s quality of life, and warned her he would likely never walk or talk again, and would require assistance breathing.
She immediately began researching alternatives on her phone, ultimately stumbling upon a medical paper written by Dr Jacques Morcos, a neurosurgeon just eight hours away in Houston.
Dr Morcos specializes in cavernoma, and the mom took a chance by reaching out to him via email, explaining her son’s worsening condition.
When Dr Morcos looked closely at Witten’s condition, he felt confident he could treat him.
‘I thought this could be done,’ he said. ‘I said let’s transfer you here.’
Days later, Witten was flown to Houston for the risky surgery, which was jointly performed by Dr Morcos and a pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr Manish Shah.
Four hours later, they delivered the good news: the operation was a success.
Doctors told Ms Daniel there was little more they could do to improve Witten’s quality of life, and warned her he would likely never walk or talk again, and would require assistance breathing.
Witten has miraculously recovered and even received the all clear to return to his beloved baseball team
Witten has miraculously recovered and even received the all clear to return to his beloved baseball team.
He has since turned seven and started second grade at school.
Witten described his recovery as ‘beautiful’ and expressed gratitude for the doctors who saved his life.
