A 16-year-old high school hockey player in St. Paul, Minnesota, died on Christmas Day after first suffering a stroke on Dec. 6.
Cormick James Scanlan had moyamoya, a blood-vessel disorder predominantly affecting children, making them more likely to have a stroke, the New York Post reported Wednesday.
“We went from a Monday practice where he was sitting on the players’ bench,” Scanlan’s coach, Derek Weinke, told KMSP-TV. “I just said, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ His leg was bothering him.”
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the rare, progressive cerebrovascular condition is caused by blocked arteries at the base of the brain.
The disease could be treated in various ways, such as medications that help reduce the likelihood of stroke, and revascularization surgeries that attempt to restore regular blood flow in narrowed blood vessels or bypass them.
Trending:
Scanlan underwent emergency surgery on Dec. 15.
“We kind of thought, ‘Hey, now we know what it is, they’re going to do this procedure and he’s going to battle back,’” Weinke said, according to the New York Post.
“We don’t know what it’s going to look like on the other side, but it’s Cormick, he’s going to battle through this, and then things took a turn and then it got worse.”
Scanlan suffered additional strokes that affected more parts of his brain, and he died on Christmas Day.
Is the number of children dying in the U.S. alarming to you?
Yes: 100% (23 Votes)
No: 0% (0 Votes)
“Cormick James passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his parents and Grammy T. There is something beautiful about him starting his heavenly journey on Christmas. We are thankful for the time Mick granted family and friends to visit one last time,” Scanlan’s family wrote in his obituary on CaringBridge.
“Maybe the Christmas miracle was the support our community has continuously shown our family. It has been astounding. Words cannot express how much joy Cormick brought his family. We are heartbroken,” the obituary stated.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Mick, yet…
Source
Leave a Comment