A ‘guardian angel’ on his side: How a Sterling Heights man, 20, fought to recover from stroke

By Anne Snabes, asnabes@detroitnews.com

As he gathered with household at his grandparents’ dwelling for Christmas dinner this 12 months, Edward Constantineau of Sterling Heights deliberate to be surrounded by the individuals who pushed him to battle to get well from the toughest factor he is ever skilled in his younger life, an impediment he is nonetheless working to beat.

Constantineau was simply 19 and coaching at his native gymnasium in March this 12 months when he suffered the unimaginable for a teen: a stroke. He instantly underwent surgical procedure for a hemorrhage in his mind and later underwent six weeks of inpatient rehabilitation at a facility in Detroit, the place he regained motion, speech and high-quality motor abilities.

However via all of it, Constantineau stated his greatest motivator throughout rehabilitation and the wrestle to get well was “my household and associates.”

“My household was all the time there,” says Constantineau, now 20. “I imply, my mom by no means left my aspect.”

Henry Ford Well being officers say Constantineau’s story highlights the significance of early detection and immediate therapy of strokes, of which solely about 10-15% happen in folks below age 50. Constantineau’s stroke was brought on by a uncommon situation known as arteriovenous malformation, during which arteries and veins mesh with out capillaries connecting them, stated his neurologist, Dr. Mohammed Rehman.

Constantineau didn’t know he had the deformity on the time, however it ruptured.

Rehman stated that in Edward’s case, the gymnasium receptionist known as 911 “instantly.”

“For those who ever have a neurological deficit … or in case you suppose one thing is happening and one thing is not proper, do not hesitate” to name 911, Rehman stated.

Reflecting on her son’s ordeal and the way it began, Stephanie Constantineau, Edward’s mom, believes he “saved his personal life” by asking for assist when he was on the gymnasium and felt his arm weakening. He was the one who requested the receptionist to name 911.

“I completely imagine there was a stronger pressure with him, watching over him,” she stated. “I do not know, a guardian angel, if you’ll.”

And Rehman believes Constantineau’s steadfast assist system and drive to get higher performed a job in his “exceptional” restoration.

“I see that very not often as a result of if you end up confronted with one thing like this at his age, it is rather tough to take care of numerous issues,” Rehman stated. “And I might see Eddie was being pushed.”

The stroke

Constantineau, a 2023 graduate of Henry Ford II Excessive Faculty the place he performed varsity baseball, stated he has no reminiscence of the stroke, however he has been instructed it began shortly after he went to his gymnasium, The Edge Health Golf equipment, on March 14.

Whereas doing lat pulldowns, an train during which you pull down a weighted bar connected to a chunk of train gear whereas sitting, he felt his left arm grow to be weak. He requested the gymnasium receptionist to name 911; she additionally known as his dad and mom.

Paramedics took Constantineau to Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township, the place they rapidly carried out surgical procedure.

The following few days had been “type of a blur,” Stephanie Constantineau recalled. She describes them as ’emotional’ and ‘exhausting’. She felt helpless as a mum or dad.

“I believe the primary 48 to 72 hours actually touched him and moved him, like simply getting via the primary three days to see how he would get well from the surgical procedures,” she stated.

A uncommon medical situation

Rehman, a neuroendovascular doctor at Henry Ford Well being, stated most strokes are brought on by a blockage of a blood vessel, whereas others are brought on by bleeding within the mind. He stated one of many uncommon causes of bleeding within the mind is an arteriovenous malformation.

Capillaries join arteries to veins within the physique. An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a tangle of arteries and veins with out capillaries between them. the Cleveland Clinic. The incidence of the situation is roughly 1 in 100,000 folks. The malformations often happen within the mind and are often current from delivery, in accordance with Henry Ford Well being.

Rehman stated AVMs are frequent in younger folks, and bleeding is most typical between the ages of 10 and 40. He stated the Henry Ford Well being system sees three to 5 ruptured arteriovenous malformations per 12 months, in addition to about 40 to 50 folks per 12 months whose malformations haven’t ruptured. AVMs trigger signs resembling extreme complications, seizures or weak spot as injury will increase, he stated.

Dr. Mark Goldberger, a neurosurgeon, carried out the primary surgical procedure on Constantineau, eradicating a major quantity of blood from the mind. Over the following few weeks, his docs carried out a number of angiograms, or blood vessel exams. Within the second angiogram, they found the AVM, Stephanie Constantineau stated.

Rehman stated it took Constantineau not less than 5 to seven days to get up after the primary surgical procedure — he was in a coma. He spent a complete of 27 days in intensive care.

“It is heartbreaking to see your son undergo one thing like this and never know the way it will finish,” Stephanie Constantineau stated via tears. “Like I say, ‘You simply need to put all of your belief in God and the docs, and simply belief that every thing goes to be OK.’ However it’s exhausting as a result of we now have two different youngsters.

She stated she by no means left her son’s aspect. She spent each night time within the hospital and got here dwelling to take a bathe.

The remedy course of

After leaving the hospital, Constantineau spent 43 days in inpatient rehabilitation. He stated the start of the restoration course of was “the toughest half.”

“I used to be at a stage the place I could not even sit up,” he stated, referring to his time in hospital and the primary days of rehabilitation. “I had misplaced all my muscle tissue and was simply in a wheelchair, which was powerful each day. I felt like I used to be caught in a spot the place I could not even transfer.”

He stated the remedy was “intense” and “very constant” and came about 5 or extra days every week. He underwent occupational, bodily and speech remedy, the latter of which was essential as a result of he “left no voice after popping out of the intubation,” he stated.

Constantineau stated high-quality motor abilities had been “essentially the most irritating” a part of the remedy, and he’s nonetheless engaged on them.

“He nonetheless has no mobility in his left hand, such because the wrist and fingers,” stated Stephanie Constantineau, including that restoration will take “over 18 months.”

“I imply, we’ve not misplaced hope,” she stated. “He works exhausting each day.”

At dwelling, Constantineau continues to endure remedy each day, he stated. In his household’s basement, he does workout routines advisable by his therapist and rides an train bike.

“I have been making an attempt to regulate to my regular life by hanging out with associates” and taking an internet class at Macomb Group School this fall, he stated.

The indicators of a stroke

Rehman stated in an electronic mail that strokes can have an effect on anybody at any age, though the chance will increase with age. He stated about 10-15% of strokes happen in folks below 50. He urged everybody, together with younger folks, to pay attention to the indicators of stroke and shared the acronym FAST. This stands for ‘Facial drooping, Arm weak spot, Slurred speech, Time to name 911.’

He stated in case you or somebody round you experiences these signs, it is best to search medical consideration instantly.

“The truth that Eddie instantly sought assist when he began experiencing signs is extremely necessary,” he stated. “This allowed 911 to be known as and emergency care to be supplied rapidly. When a stroke happens, each second counts. The earlier somebody seeks therapy, the higher the result.”

His plans for the longer term

In January, Constantineau will resume in-person lessons at MCC, the place he’s learning train science. He plans to retake the lessons he was taking when the stroke occurred earlier this 12 months.

After finishing his affiliate diploma, he plans to switch to Oakland College and plans to enter the healthcare subject as a nurse or doctor assistant. Constantineau stated he initially wished to enter healthcare due to his curiosity in sports activities, however after every thing he is been via since his stroke, it solidified his resolution to enter the sector.

Reflecting on his experiences, Constantineau stated the primary days of his restoration had been “powerful” – “I believe I used to be caught in that ‘why me?’ mentality” – however is now “very assured” within the progress he has made. However he additionally is aware of that restoration takes time.

“I believe that is the exhausting half… ready all this time, however… I am positively optimistic in regards to the future,” he stated.