We All Have Special Needs: Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month

Like many people I meet and share my story with, I was unaware that a child, let alone an infant or an unborn baby could have a stroke. The news was shocking when a perfect (by medical standards - not my own), healthy pregnancy ended up in an emergency c-section and hours later my husband and baby were being transferred miles away from me to the closest NICU. A few months later we took Lincoln back to Mayo Clinic in Rochester looking for answers, and were told that our sweet baby boy had indeed experienced a stroke in utero.

I am inviting and asking all of those I love and know to wear the color purple throughout the month of May and to send me photos of you and your family in the color so I can add you to my page! I also encourage you to share the information on Facebook, Instagram, or wherever you feel it might be seen. I know it is easy to live our daily lives, with the blessings of health and healthy children -- as we should, however, this isn't the case for everyone. While I am so blessed myself and forget that tragedy happens when things are going well -- I meet a lot of people who appreciate and love support. I have made amazing friends because of what we have been through and support is powerful! Knowledge is also power, and just because the topic at hand does not affect you personally, does not mean that it isn't someone else's reality, possibly someone you even know!

Key Chain Charm

I have pediatric stroke awareness key chain charms available! If you would like one, please comment below or message me and I will drop one in the mail for you! I am not asking for anything in return other than your help to raise awareness and show your support!

Click the link to download a free color page for your kiddos! Coloring Page Ribbon

There is so much growth needed in the awareness avenue regarding the topic! I wanted to re-visit some of the basic facts with you all.

Strokes can occur before birth, in infants, children and young adults
Risk of stroke is highest in the first year of life and peaks during the perinatal period (a few weeks before and after birth)
Occurrence - 1 in every 2800 live births (this is likely underestimated)
Sixty percent of infants with a stroke diagnosis have specific symptoms such as seizures in the first three days of life
Forty percent of infants will have no symptoms and the stroke is recognized later with delays in movement, development or seizures. (This was Lincoln, diagnosed later even though he spent time in the NICU with complications. We just did not know the extent of them despite multiple tests being performed.)

Cause

In most cases, like ours, the cause is unknown

My Baby Isn't Using One Hand

Hand preference should not be determined or noticeable before the age of one year and often much later than that. So a child who favors one hand, leaves the other hand in a fist, or doesn't bring both hands together during play needs to be referred for further testing.
Delays in early milestones -- rolling, sitting, pulling to stand, crawling and walking -- are additional reasons for evaluation.
This is a common reason or first sign that families notice. (With Lincoln hand preference at just months old is what prompted us to go back to Mayo Clinic.)

Ways of Diagnosing

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Ultrasound
Electroencephalogram (EEG) if seizures are suspected
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) performed if a heart problem is present or suspected, often associated with strokes
Blood samples to check for blood clotting disorders.
Other tests may be performed outside this list depending on the patients needs

Therapy

Children often receive multiple therapies for long periods of time -- some even decades or as long as needed. Therapies may include (but are not limited to) occupation, physical and speech therapy to help them learn skills for daily living and to increase movement.