Imagine going to school one day, and ending up in intensive care for weeks afterwards. That's what happened to one local teen with a disorder that put his life in jeopardy.
Ian Kotmair, 18, doesn't remember the 77 days he spent fighting for his life. He says it all began last year while he was in school.
"Sitting with friends, felt a sharp pain in the back of head, said 'Excuse me, guys. I'm stopping by the nurse for some medication,'" said Ian.
But it was no ordinary headache. Ian became unconscious, was rushed to the hospital, and ended up at the University of Maryland Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
His parents prepared for the worst. Doctors discovered Ian had arterio venous malformation -- AVM. It is an abnormal collection of blood vessels that ruptured in his brain.
"It took up space in the back of his brain, caused brain swelling and it was the increase in pressure in the brain that caused him to pass out," says pediatrician Dr. Alice Ackerman.
Ackerman says Ian's case is unusual because many people can live with AVM and never know it. She says AVM can cause sudden severe headaches, seizures, and in extreme cases like Ian's, bleeding.
Ian had several setbacks before he got better, but Ackerman calls his recovery a miracle. Ian now uses a cane instead of a wheelchair, and he's awaiting surgery to take care of his double vision.
Ian's mother kept a journal during his illness -- something Ian says he'll read eventually, but for now he's looking ahead. "I can recover from this. I'm gonna recover from this," says Ian.
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