Diagnosis and Immediate Treatment
Ian was rushed to Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, where doctors determined he had suffered a stroke caused by a tear in the inner lining of the vertebral artery — a critical blood vessel that supplies blood to the spinal cord and central nervous system.
The force of the sneezing fit caused the tear, blocking blood flow and triggering the stroke.
Doctors immediately gave Ian blood thinners to prevent further clots and admitted him to the ICU, where he was closely monitored for 24 hours. Though his life was saved, Ian’s road to recovery is expected to be long and difficult.
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