Determined Demi gets back on her feet

A year after suffering a life-threatening brain haemorrhage due to a congenital vascular condition, a 13-year-old girl is regaining her independence with ongoing multidisciplinary support and therapy, as well as the encouragement of her family.

“Demi’s excellent progress demonstrates what can be achieved for people after a brain injury and gives hope to those who suffer a brain bleed or a traumatic head injury,” said Professor Andre Mochan, a neurologist at Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital, with regards to World Head Injury Awareness Day which was on March 20.

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“When Demi collapsed out of the blue and was rushed to the hospital, we didn’t know what was happening to her and at first, they weren’t sure if she would make it. It was a very difficult time for us,” her father, Damien Blaauw, recalled.

An arteriovenous malformation (AVM), an abnormal bunching of blood vessels, had suddenly burst and begun filling the left hemisphere of her brain with blood, doctors discovered. Demi was transferred to Netcare Milpark Hospital for further specialised care after initial management and control of the bleeding were performed surgically at the first hospital she was taken to. Demi was under the intensive care of neurologist Dr Pradeep Rowji, who Damien describes as Demi’s ‘great friend’. This involved an endovascular cure of the AVM by interventional radiologist Dr M Valli Omar.

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Demi’s rehabilitation journey:

“Initially when Demi came to us at Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital she was unable to speak and had great difficulty understanding. She was almost completely paralysed on the right side of her body, unable to walk, and the haemorrhage had also affected her vision,” Mochan explained.

“When our daughter arrived at the hospital, there was a plan already in place, starting with assessments and the genuinely caring team developed a whole therapy plan around her needs. I was astounded because we could see a difference in her every week. Demi persisted and improved so rapidly that her rehabilitation plan had to be constantly adjusted to keep up with her,” Damien added.

Demi received intensive comprehensive therapy from a multidisciplinary team that included a rehabilitation neurologist, psychologist, physiotherapist, speech and occupational therapists, social worker, and experienced nursing staff during her hospital stay.

“Gradually, Demi started to recover her understanding until she was eventually able to form words, and the weakness on the right side of her body began to improve. She has continued with therapies on an outpatient basis since being discharged. Demi’s perseverance is paying off, and her speech and mobility are significantly improved. Demi has come a long way in the last year, and we expect her to continue to improve,” Mochan says.

“My daughter is a very determined individual, and even though she’s had this major setback, she will not allow the situation to sideline her,” Damien says.

“Demi has started at her new school and exceeded her teachers’ expectations of the progress a child can make after a brain haemorrhage injury. Demi developed such a close relationship with the rehabilitation therapists that when we do the exercises with her at home, she sometimes gets impatient with us,” her father chuckled.

“With the correct medical attention and therapy from the start, neurological rehabilitation can help to lessen the physical and cognitive deficits associated with brain injury, making a great difference to the person’s functionality, confidence and quality of life.

“Each step towards greater independence is hugely significant for the individual and their family,” Mochan concluded.

Netcare Rehabilitation Hospital will host a virtual head injury awareness event for health professionals on March 24, highlighting survivors’ journeys and the role of multidisciplinary teamwork in ensuring the best possible outcomes for each person in a caring, family-centred approach to rehabilitation. Please visit bit.ly/3kJjP29 to register for the meeting on the day from 13:00 to 15:00.