Interesting article Jannice Tedder sent me. We thought you all might like to read it. Is it Moyamoya?? I don't know, but whether it is or not, the following statement bothers me:

although what causes most adult strokes - hardened, clogged arteries - isn't the culprit for youngsters, and few are diagnosed fast enough to try experimentally the drug tPA that can restore their elders' blocked blood flow.

I wish MMD was mentioned in this article. Even though MM symptoms are harder to recognize in children, my point is, occluded arteries ARE the culprit for youngsters as well.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051206/ap_on_he_me/childhood_strokes_2

I DO agree there's knowledge gaps though, huge ones!

Mar

If you have a yahoo account, you can go to the end of the article and click the discuss link and post a reply.  You can also create a yahoo account for free if you would like to post.  I posted a reply and have provided the link in case you would like to read it.  I would encourage everyone to post something if they can.  

http://post.news.messages.yahoo.com/bbs?action=m&board=37138530&tid=apchildhoodstrokes&sid=37138530&mid=48&n=1

Yes, it's a shame that MMD isn't even mentioned.  It would have been so educational to the many medical professionals who continue to be uninformed!

I took a look at the discussion  page, thinking I might post on it.  Unfortunately, most of it is crap (sorry for using such a harsh word, but that's truly what it was).  I wonder if it's possible to get word to the author . . . just to broaden her education.

Thanks for sharing, Mar.  It's good for all of us to keep up on stuff like this!

[smiley=hug.gif], Jill

Sorry Michelle!  I think I was typing my last message as you were writing  your post [smiley=bag.gif].  Your reply was wonderful . . . you go, girl!

[smiley=heart.gif] Jill

Yeah....I saw most of it was crap, but I thought what the heck....I'm going to respond anyway.  My theory is that if it saves one life, then we've done some good.  :)

Michelle

Hi All,

I too read the article and then went to the posts. WOW! some of them were horrible (meaning foul language etc). Good God! I have never seen such horrible responses to a serious problem.

I'm glad Michelle posted a response. I was too busy reading the responses. I didn't see one thing in there about MM. They were talking about SIDS and things that didn't seem to relate to the topic at hand. It was pretty crazy.

Mar, Thanks for sharing the article. It gives us another vehicle to bring awareness to MM. So I say bring on all the articles like this you come across and we can spread the word about MM. We will educate one person at a time. Small Steps, Big Strides. We'll post or send e-mails to the authors.

I was going to e-mail the author of the article and ask her if the words MoyaMoya where ever mentioned. If not, why? and would she research further.

Love you guys!

I miss Las Vegas and partying with you guys. Can we all go back for a Las Vegas Christmas Vacation!? lol Can we invite Chevy Chase and Beverly DiAngelo and Randy Quaid? lol

Lore

Lauran Neergaard (who wrote this article) works for the Associated Press in the Washington, DC area.  

Her email is lneergaard@ap.org.
Phone number is (202) 776-9467
Fax number is (202) 776-9570

Hope this helps.  :)  I think we all should email her.  

Michelle

I would like to add a few additional comments about the article. It’s been mentioned to me that I may have read it wrong, so I’d like to clarify, if I may.

I personally think it was a very good article, and I’m sure they stated the facts accurately with all the issues they covered on strokes in children. What bothered me was the statement, “what causes most adult strokes — hardened, clogged arteries — isn't the culprit for youngsters” My concern was, that the statement was (IMO) misleading. Children DO suffer strokes as adults do--with blockages, narrowing, as the above disorders mentioned. I NEVER meant that children DO get hardened, or clogged arteries, nor did I mean that, “most adult strokes are from hardened or clogged arteries” is not accurate, that probably is in fact true. I simply meant that, children DO suffer strokes from blockages, as do adults, and it’s overlooked and misdiagnosed, as is MMD. Maybe I did read it wrong, but I felt, the statement in the article could have added more of a knowledge gap of Dr.’s NOT looking for a blockage and therefore, NOT MMD, and that's what bothered me.

Doctors still aren't sure what caused Alexzandra's stroke. Without knowing her specifics, I'll always wonder if it's MM.

Mar