A teenager who suffered a rare brain aneurysm has survived and thrived against the odds thanks to the expert medical team at Southampton Children’s Hospital (SCH).
Warrick Allon’s parents were told to prepare for the worst as he was rushed into emergency surgery following a brain haemorrhage.
He survived but was unable to talk or move after developing a syndrome common with invasive brain surgery.
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Now, thanks to the expertise of surgeons and a specialist neurological rehabilitation team at SCH, Warrick is able to walk and talk again.
Warrick, 15, complained of a headache while at home with mum and stepdad Krissie and Paul Thatcher on April 7. Minutes later he collapsed and was unresponsive.
Rushed to hospital by ambulance, scans showed he had an AVM - an abnormal tangle of blood vessels - that had ruptured causing a large blood clot to form and bleed on his brain.
Neurosurgeon Aabir Chakraborty led the team during the operation, which also involved removing part of Warrick’s skull, and stitching it to his back during surgery.
Mr Chakraborty said: "I could see that this was an unusually large blood clot and was very concerned that Warrick was at high risk of imminent brain death, so it was imperative we got him into surgery as quickly as possible."
After six hours, Warrick was placed in recovery.
Mum Krissie said: "I will remember that moment forever. We asked what Warrick’s chances of survival were and were told it was 50/50.
"It all happened so quickly but I remember telling Mr Chakraborty that my boy wasn’t going to die. It wasn’t denial, it was determination."
When Warrick, from Andover, woke from an induced coma, he was unable to speak or move and began working with the Southampton Children’s Integrated Rehabilitation Team while in intensive care.
After three months he was eating, speaking fluently, and walking slowly.
Following two further operations and having astounded medics with his recovery, he is back home and attends school part-time, aiming to take GCSEs in 2023.
Warrick’s Dad, Dave Allon, who lives in Andover with wife Lisa, said: "What they have done is nothing short of miraculous. We will be forever grateful."
Mr Chakraborty added: "I am so happy to see how far Warrick has come – he really has survived against the odds. He and his family are some of the most remarkable people I have ever met. I look forward to seeing his positive progress."
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