L’ESSENTIEL
- Lexi Frederick suffered a stroke at just six weeks classic.
- At 16, she lives with cerebral palsy and epilepsy as a result.
- She is now sharing her story to raise awareness of stroke in children.
While most strokes occur in people over 65, they can happen at any age, even in infancy. Lexi Frederick, a 16-year-old from Ohio, is advocating for greater awareness of childhood stroke after experiencing one herself at six weeks old.
“Children can have strokes too. One of my life goals is to make sure everyone is aware of this so they can support and understand others, so they don’t avoid them and can help them experience good about themselves,” Frederick told WBAL.
Stroke in Infancy Led to Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy
Frederick uses her participation in beauty pageants as a platform to share her story. Doctors were unable to determine the cause of the stroke, which occurred when a portion of her young brain was deprived of blood.
Whereas not fatal, the stroke left her with lasting effects. She now lives with epilepsy and cerebral palsy, which affects movement on the right side of her body. Everyday tasks, such as tying her shoes, can be challenging and she relies on a service dog named Luna for assistance.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m less than others because of my disability, but I adapt and I stay myself,” Lexi explained to U.S. Media outlets. Despite these challenges, she remains optimistic. “I want to change the world, make it a better place for everyone, no matter where they come from or what difficulties they face. I want everyone to know that a simple smile can make a difference,” she added. Her advocacy work has been recognized nationally; she is one of nine finalists for the American “Stroke Hero Award”, presented by the National Stroke Association. The winner will be announced on May 1.
Recognizing Stroke Symptoms in Children
Stroke in children is rare and often overlooked. In France, between 500 and 1,000 cases are reported annually in individuals under 18, representing approximately 1% of all strokes. However, as with adults, prompt diagnosis is crucial for both survival and minimizing long-term complications. Recognizing the signs is therefore essential.
- Weakness on one side of the body;
- Loss of coordination or balance;
- Facial asymmetry, or a drooping mouth;
- Difficulty speaking;
- Sudden, severe headache;
- Vision problems, such as blurred vision or loss of vision in one eye;
- Unusual drowsiness and difficulty staying awake;
- Dizziness;
- Vomiting;
- Seizures, which are very common in young children;
- Difficulty sucking or swallowing;
- Altered consciousness.
“The most common causes are either silent until the event (vascular malformations) or are relatively common. For example, the risk of cerebral arteriopathy (the main cause of arterial cerebral infarction in children) is tripled after a respiratory infection and multiplied by 17 in the months following chickenpox. Perinatal accidents occur even when pregnancy and delivery are usually normal,” explains the Centre National de Référence de l’AVC de l’enfant. However, the cause of 50% of strokes in children remains unknown.
