Ryan Westmoreland to have brain surgery

[a700hitter]

A cruel twist of fate for this kid and his family.

[NateGrey]

Westmoreland surgery 'successful'

 

 

The Red Sox issued the following release about the surgical procedure performed on 19-year-old Ryan Westmoreland to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain:

 

According to the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Red Sox minor league outfielder Ryan Westmoreland today underwent successful surgery to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain. Dr. Robert Spetzler performed the surgery. The announcement was made by general manager Theo Epstein. Following the five-hour procedure, Westmoreland remains in the intensive care unit but has come through the surgery well. Due to the complexity of this surgery, Ryan will face a difficult period initially before beginning his recovery.

 

 

 

 

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

 

 

 

[Spudboy]

That sounds like good news! Thanks Nate.

 

Recovery from neurosurgery is really dicey. As Jacko said, the more you cut, the more neurons are lost.

 

Here's hoping that he recovers well and has had minimal loss of brain function.

 

Any input from our "resident" Doctor would be appreciated.

 

God speed Ryan.

[a700hitter]

More news on Westmoreland.

 

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/red_sox/

[BSN07]

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Highly regarded Boston Red Sox minor league prospect Ryan Westmoreland has had surgery in Arizona to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain.

 

The team made the announcement Tuesday night, saying a five-hour procedure was performed at the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Spetzler.

 

A brief team statement said Westmoreland remains in the intensive care unit "but has come through the surgery well." It added that because of the complexity of the surgery, the 19-year-old outfielder will "face a difficult period initially before beginning his recovery."

 

"It sounds like very encouraging news," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after Tuesday night's split-squad game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte. "We're obviously thrilled about that and thankful."

 

Westmoreland is one of Boston's top prospects. He left minor league camp on March 4 and was diagnosed the following day at Massachusetts General Hospital.

 

A cavernous malformation of cavernoma is a cluster of abnormal or dilated blood vessels that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms can include bleeding in the brain, seizures and headaches.

 

Francona received an update on the surgery from general manager Theo Epstein.

 

Minor league first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who played in Tuesday night's loss to Tampa Bay, said he received a text message from one of Westmoreland's friends "saying surgery couldn't have gone better."

 

Rizzo was treated for lymphoma in 2008, when he was 18.

 

"He's a tough, strong kid and we're all pulling for him," Rizzo said.

 

From SI.

[jacksonianmarch]

That's good news.

[jacksonianmarch]

So they keep him in the unit based upon the fact that his brainstem was manipulated. Everything from seizures to heart block can occur after brainstem manipulation. After 2 days, he'll likely be moved to a floor and then out to rehab.

[riverside sluggers]

Ryan Westmoreland (brain surgery) has been moved out of intensive care and will begin physical and occupational therapy.

Great news. The Red Sox released a statement on Friday that read in part: "We are thrilled for Ryan and his family that the surgery went so well," said Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein. "While we recognize that the recovery process is long and complicated, we are excited that all of the early indications are so positive. On behalf of the Westmoreland family, we thank everybody who has expressed concern and support for Ryan." Westmoreland, 19, underwent surgery to repair a cavernous malformation of the brain on Tuesday.

[Spudboy]

As a father of an 18 year old boy, I can imagine what Ryan's parents are going through.

 

This is good news. He has survived and is able to move on to therapy. This is the best news so far in spring training. I hope to see him throwing out a first pitch at Fenway this season.

 

Woooooo! That would be nice!

[example1]

As a father of an 18 year old boy, I can imagine what Ryan's parents are going through.

 

This is good news. He has survived and is able to move on to therapy. This is the best news so far in spring training. I hope to see him throwing out a first pitch at Fenway this season.

 

Woooooo! That would be nice!

 

Yes it would. Great idea.

[jacksonianmarch]

He survived the toughest part. Now onto the rehab

[riverside sluggers]

Ryan Westmoreland, who underwent surgery to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain last month, is currently undergoing treatment at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston.

The club released a statement on Monday saying that the 19-year-old "has been making steady progress and is in great spirits." Westmoreland visited the Red Sox clubhouse before Sunday night's game and watched the game with his parents from general manager Theo Epstein's private box. He's expected to continue physical and occupational therapy at the Spaulding facility.

[jacksonianmarch]

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100405&content_id=9095462&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos

[Dojji]

I'm glad he's doing well. I won't even bother to try to guess what that means for an eventual return to baseball.

[jacksonianmarch]

.... see below...

[jacksonianmarch]

One of my sox fan friends pointed this out to me, something I missed. Look at the picture carefully.

 

http://boston.3432.voxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Media-Card_BlackBerry_pictures_IMG00026-479x294.jpg

 

He's got a facial droop and he's ataxic. Good luck kid.

[Spudboy]

What's ataxic?

[jacksonianmarch]

Ataxia is basically the inability to have fine control of your movements. I have a really basic example for you. Your brain sees something it wants to reach. It tells your hand to move to touch that thing. Your arm has no problem lifting up and moving, but the brain cannot reliably move the hand out with enough accuracy and precision to get to the object. Not uncommon when you operate near the cerebellum. Cerebellar injuries and other lacunar strokes above the cerebellum result in ataxia.

[a700hitter]

He's very lucky that he was diagnosed before that thing exploded in his head and killed or paralyzed him. I don't think he is in the Sox future plans. He'll be lucky if he can function normally.

[example1]

One of my sox fan friends pointed this out to me, something I missed. Look at the picture carefully.

 

http://boston.3432.voxcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Media-Card_BlackBerry_pictures_IMG00026-479x294.jpg

 

He's got a facial droop and he's ataxic. Good luck kid.

 

I'm just curious, how can you tell he's ataxic? I'm not doubting that you know ataxia, but when I type in "Westmoreland + ataxia" I get your post, nothing else. I assume it's not just from the picture (same with the facial droop).

 

I have no doubts that his condition/recovery is serious, and that his future in baseball is highly in doubt, I'm just curious about how you can tell so much about him with limited data.

[YeAuldBroade]

He's definitely Ataxic, I saw the game and one side of his face definitely droops. However, he was very responsive to the camera, nothing sluggish about his behavior.

[jacksonianmarch]

It was his wave. I didnt notice the facial droop until I saw the pictures and was alerted by a friend. But if you watch the motion, he waved to the camera, and it just looked so uncoordinated, something I wouldnt expect from a top notch athlete.

[example1]

It was his wave. I didnt notice the facial droop until I saw the pictures and was alerted by a friend. But if you watch the motion' date=' he waved to the camera, and it just looked so uncoordinated, something I wouldnt expect from a top notch athlete.[/quote']

 

Ah. I see. I didn't see the video. What a sad thing to have happen. My sister has had two brain surgeries due to glioblastoma multiforme. It sounds like what Westy has is less life-threatening if handled appropriately. Poor guy.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

It was his wave. I didnt notice the facial droop until I saw the pictures and was alerted by a friend. But if you watch the motion' date=' he waved to the camera, and it just looked so uncoordinated, something I wouldnt expect from a top notch athlete.[/b']

 

I noticed that during the game, it worried me. Thanks for the posts, now I understand all this better.

[BoSox21]

I can't imagine how hard all this must be for his close family and friends. To know him before the surgery, his "normal" self and now the way he is.

[yeszir]

Man that picture is rough, I didn't catch it on TV when it aired

[Dojji]

Red Sox "cautiously optimistic" about his return.

 

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100428/SPORTS/304280061/1050/Top-Red-Sox-prospect-on-mend

 

Westmoreland, who would have probably started this season in Greenville, if not diagnosed with his illness, is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation. Since he lives in Portsmouth, Rhode Island which is less than hour away from Boston, he is continuing his rehabilitation at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.

 

He is doing well, according to Drive pitcher Pete Ruiz, who was Westmoreland’s roommate last season.

 

“ I talked to him (Sunday),” Ruiz said. “He has a great attitude. He is making a lot of progress and should be back sooner than people expected. Just being able to come back at all is going to be a great accomplishment. I know he can do it, and he has the attitude to do it.”

[a700hitter]

Red Sox "cautiously optimistic" about his return.

 

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100428/SPORTS/304280061/1050/Top-Red-Sox-prospect-on-mend

From everything I've heard and read, his return is a real long shot.

[jacksonianmarch]

There is no coming back from this in a baseball sense. If he even makes contact with a minor league pitch, then that's a miracle

[WhiskeyBreath]

Westmoreland hits

 

Portsmouth’s Ryan Westmoreland posted Wednesday on his Twitter account — @RWesty25 — that he’s made another big step in his recovery from brain surgery.

 

“First day hitting off a tee today!!!!” Westmoreland posted Wednesday afternoon.

 

Westmoreland, the No. 2 prospect in the Red Sox organization entering the season, couldn’t throw a baseball in the weeks immediately after his March operation to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain stem. Now he’s taking swings off a tee — another huge step in his road not only to the major leagues, but to living a normal life