ORLANDO, Fla. — A boy on vacation with his family in Orlando was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children after a life-threatening incident.
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Orlando Health officials said 12-year-old Anish Srivastava and his family were visiting an attraction in Orlando when his brain ruptured, causing massive bleeding into his brain, extreme pain and the loss of feeling on one side of his body.
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Anish was rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children where neurosurgeons performed a 9-hour brain surgery to save his life.
“Anish’s surgery was long, but our goal was to keep him safe, while taking the pressure off his brain and removing the complex brain AVM and associated aneurysm,” said Samer Elbabaa, MD, chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer. “What matters most is that the immediate danger of this AVM rupturing again is down to 0%.”
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Officials said Anish remained in critical condition at the hospital for several weeks. In time, he began to regain some strength, putting together small phrases, smiling and even laughing.
“We still have a long road ahead of us,” said Radhika Srivastava, Anish’s mother. “It’s bittersweet heading home to Seattle, but I know it’s the right thing for Anish. I get attached to people though, and Orlando Health is family now.”
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Anish returned home to Seattle on a medical flight earlier this month.
Orlando Health said it will continue to work with his care team there to ensure his recovery continues smoothly.
“I’m excited to be home with family and our close friends to celebrate Anish’s birthday and life. The worst is behind him, and we’re going to celebrate every milestone,” said Radhika.
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