Brain care meant to save more moments that matter.
“I’m feeling very blessed for all the doctors, the nurses, oh my, all they do for me. I say, ‘thank you.’”
Meet Alvaro
On top of his roles as a husband and father, Alvaro also cultivates and transforms green spaces as a landscaper who works in the Akron area.
During an otherwise normal day at work with his cousin, Alvaro’s health took a dramatic turn for the worse. He began feeling dizzy and experienced a sensation of pressure inside his head. As his symptoms continued to worsen, Alvaro began vomiting and ultimately passed out. Fearing the worst, his cousin rushed him to the Summa Health Emergency Department where they were met by the entire neuroscience team.
His cousin made the right choice. A CT scan revealed that Alvaro had blood in his brain called a subarachnoid bleed. He was also developing hydrocephalus, a condition which can be fatal within minutes. An external drain (known as a ventricular drain) was immediately inserted at his bedside. This drain helped to relieve the pressure this bleed was causing within Alvaro’s brain while preparations were being made for surgery.
Alvaro was rushed to Summa Health’s neurointerventional suite for a surgical coiling procedure meant to stop this aneurysm’s chance of a rebleed. Alvaro’s brain continued to bleed until the procedure was complete, making it one of the most complicated cases Dr. Aashish Anand, a Summa Health neuroendovascular surgeon, had ever seen.
The surgeons wouldn’t have a clear picture of what Alvaro’s recovery would be like until he woke up from the procedure. Dr. Anand was surprised by what happened next.
“As soon as the anesthesia wore off,” Dr. Anand said, “he was wide awake and stated that he wanted to go home. His recovery was like a miracle. He had no neurological damage.”
At the time, Alvaro and his wife had a new baby on the way. As he was being admitted to the hospital his wife feared the worst, but is now thankful for Alvaro’s fast recovery.
“I’m feeling very blessed for all the doctors, the nurses…oh my, all they did for me. I say, ‘thank you,’” Alvaro said.
It was fortunate that his cousin acted quickly and brought Alvaro to Summa Health. The expert care he received from the Summa Health Neuroscience Institute team made sure he was able to be there for the birth of their new baby girl. Today he’s back landscaping, and more importantly, he’s able to be with his family.
Summa Health. All for the better.