Oneonta’s Isabelle Ewing Still Fighting Strong!

Isabelle Ewing, a.k.a "Tinkerbell", a Valley View Elementary School student in Oneonta, captured our hearts when she was suddenly struck down seven months ago after suffering an AVM rupture.

An AVM is an abnormal cluster of veins and arteries fused together.  The AVM ruptured near her brain, so you can easily guess how very dangerous that event was.

So how is little Tinkerbell doing now?  Her mother, Sarah, kindly filled me in on where things stand with her condition:

" I can't believe how far she (Isabelle) has come. She is getting good at walking with a walker. She still has some Ataxia (lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movements) that is preventing her from walking by herself, but she is getting there. Her speech is getting a lot better. She is doing well in school with her school work. We all can't believe how much she retained, memory-wise.

On the down side, Tinker's AVM is embedded in her brain stem and our only option was Radiation Surgery which she had done in October. The radiation is supposed to collapse the AVM in on itself, but it takes 2-3 years for that to happen. The tough question I get asked is, "Can it rupture again before that happens?" and the answer is yes, it could, but it's a VERY small percent chance.

Tinker still faces ongoing medical treatment and studies, but with all that she has gone through and is still going through, Isabelle hasn't given up hope that one day she will be back to herself again.  Our family would like to thank everyone for their support and prayers. You can keep following Tinker on Facebook at TINKERBELL'S DREAM. She loves her "fans" as she says!"

On behalf of the WZOZ Team, I just want to say: we're all pulling for you, Tinkerbell, and wish the very best for you and your family!