Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month

May is Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month

Before Karsen, I had no clue an infant, let alone unborn baby, could have a stroke. Here are some of the causes of a stroke in a child: birth defects, meningitis, encephalitis, trauma, or a blood disorder. In Karsen's case, he had a blood clot that traveled to his brain. We are so lucky he is alive. Childhood stroke survivors can suffer from cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and/or epilepsy. Babies who have strokes in-utero or within the first month of life, are at a higher risk for cerebral palsy. A baby in-utero needs oxygen rich blood so that its brain can develop and grow. When a stroke occurs, the blood and oxygen stop flowing to all parts of the brain. This causes the brain damage, which can cause cerebral palsy. Even though a stroke to a child is devastating, they have a better ability to heal because of their better plasticity or flexibility of their nervous system and brain. 

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