Learn about Abhay’s amazing progress and recovery from brain surgery.
Eighteen months ago, with no previous symptoms, Abhay, age eight at the time, was unexpectedly diagnosed with a brain tumor. Immediately, the family left their home in Las Vegas to rush Abhay to UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital for emergency surgery.
After the removal of the tumor and two strokes during surgery, Abhay was left with right-side ataxia and posterior fossa syndrome, which affected his balance and fine motor skills. After almost two months at UCLA, Abhay was sent to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego for acute rehabilitation to help regain all his physical movements, including speech and swallowing. Each morning, he was transferred by ambulance to UCSD for preventive proton radiation therapy. Those treatments were intense, and since this type of tumor was unresearched, Abhay underwent four months of preventative chemo at CHOC. All the hospitals recommended he continue his recovery at The Shea Center, participating in physical therapy utilizing hippotherapy. The family still hasn’t returned to Las Vegas because of the importance of Abhay’s treatment at Shea.
Abhay is making significant progress. He needed to hold a person’s hand to walk as recently as six months ago. Now, with improved balance, he tries to run! Abhay’s mother, Prerna, remarks, “Abhay’s core strength, overall strength, and spatial recognition have all improved. He also receives emotional strength from the horses. When he fractured his elbow during a fall and couldn’t ride, he spent his time in the barn visiting and feeding carrots to the horses. He loves all animals, but particularly horses. Easy is his favorite horse, and being at The Shea Center is the highlight of his week.”
To help increase his brain activity, Abhay participates in a debate class, which helps with his speech, and he also enjoys swimming. He continues physical and occupational therapies weekly in addition to The Shea Center.
Abhay pays attention, is hard-working, and looks forward to progressing through this challenging phase of his life. He and his family are all immensely proud of his accomplishments.
