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First Symptoms

When I first experienced my first sympton, I was in the first grade, and it was a TIA (transient ischemic attack) on my left hand. Basically what happened was my left hand felt numb and tingly and the feeling extended up to my lower arm. I had just played a recorder, repeatedly holding out the long notes; I started walking to a different room, holding the recorder in my left hand, when I heard a light "thump". I turned around to find that the recorder had slipped from my hand, although I had not felt it fall. As I tried to pick it up with my left hand, I couldn't control my arm. It was just there, not able to do much. I went to my mom, but realized that as I walked, my left leg felt exactly like my hand, and I had to drag it more than step with it.

Visiting theDoctors

Ever since my first symptom, my parents disregarded it, especially when our family doctor classified it as hyperventilation. However, in sixth grade, the TIA's came more often, especially with my enrollment in my school's choir group. Finally, my parents took actions, and we visited a variety of doctors, mostly in UCLA. I soon did my first MRI scan. After visiting many many many doctors, I somehow ended up in Dr. Steinburg's office at Stanford Hospital. Little did I know, my parents had been visiting DJ's website and already had an idea about my condition. Dr. Steinburg confirmed their suspicions.

The First Two Surgeries

About two weeks after the consultation with Dr. Steinburg and Teresa, I headed up to Stanford again to get the surgeries done. It was the week before my spring break in April. First, I had to get some pre-op procedures done: MRI-MRA, a Cerebral Angiogram, Doppler, and a Spect Scan. The Tuesday after, I had my first surgery, a direct vascular bypass on the right side of my head, which lasted about 7 hours. I was discharged the following Saturday. Exactly a week after my first surgery, I had my second surgery, an indirect bypass on the top of my head, which was supposed to help the left side. It lasted about 3-5 hours and I was discharged the following Friday. When I got back home, I missed school for about another two weeks, missing about a total of one month of school.

Post-Op, Symptoms Again, Third Surgery

Six months after the first surgery, I headed up to Stanford for a post-op check-up. I did the same procedures as the pre-op procedures. The results came out wonderful and Dr. Steinburg said that my blood vessels were developing nicely.
Then, in November of 2006, I went to Disneyland with my dad and rode the raft ride. I had gotten considerably wet and I started to shiver. This caused oxygen shortage, and I once more suffered from a quick TIA, except this time on my right hand. After my dad emailed Teresa, we immediately headed up to Stanford again for a check-up. Once the MRI results came out, it showed that the blood vessels on the left side of my head were quite thin. Surgery was scheduled the week before Christmas. Again the surgery took place on a Tuesday, and I was discharged on the following Saturday, just in time for Christmas.

Post Op

In June 2007, I went for a post-op check-up, doing again, the same procedures. Results have not come in yet, but I feel great, and I am starting to engage in physical activities once more, as I am a member of pep squad at my school. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at bbjohng@yahoo.com.


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