Celia

Hi, my name is Celia, and I would like to post my family's story. I am only thirteen so bare with me.

When I was almost four years old, my baby sister Megan was born. My mom knew megan was extremely ill right from birth, but the hospital didn't believe her until about a week and a half later.

Megan was throwing up everything, and became severly dehydrated. She also started having seizures. Megan got transfered to McMaster hospital from a Kitchener hospital, where they found out she had a bleed and a blood clot going on in her brain at once. Megan had suffered a stroke at only a week and a half old, and my family was told she probably wouldn't make it. Megan proved them wrong, she is now a healthy child, living a normal life.

The only thing good that came out of Megan's stroke was that, My dad, sister and I found out that we had Factor V Leiden. We were now being told that our life was more at risk than people without the clotting disorder. Me being four at the time, didn't understand anything about it. Now I know that it means, I can't take birth control, DEFINATLY can't smoke, will have high-risk pregnancies when I am older and decide to have kids and the list goes on.

My sister Megan has been the only one that Factor V Leiden has effected as of now, but my dad and I know we're still at risk and can't take chances. Megan lives with slight side effects of the stroke, cerebal palsy and epilepsy but we are thankful she is alive and is as strong as any normal kid. She is also a spokes person for The Heart and Stroke Foundation, and even though she still attends sick kids hospital yearly we are hoping she will eventually stop needing to have yearly check-ups.

I wanted to share my family's story because, not very many people are aware of youth CVL and stroke, but it happens. Also, even though my mom got told she was wrong, about 5 times in one week, she followed her insticts and was right. Always follow your true insticts. I hope I have helped someone with this story.

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