A Texas family’s trip to the Big Apple for their 10-year-old son’s birthday turned into a nightmare when he became seriously ill and ended up in a coma in a New York City ICU.
Riker Stipic’s family surprised him with a birthday vacation to New York City to experience the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” and eat New York City pizza for the first time.
“Bless his sweet little heart,” Riker’s father, David Stipic, told FOX 7.
“He wanted to go to the dueling arena in Weehawken where Aaron Burr and Hamilton dueled,” he said.
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10-year-old Riker Stipic is in intensive care in New York City after falling seriously ill during a birthday trip to the Big Apple. (FOX 7 Austin, via David Stipic)
Stipik said that on her son’s 10th birthday, she never thought about the possibility that her son would become seriously ill.
“Your child is happy and healthy and is 10 years old, so I think it’s okay to stay that way,” Stipik said.
On the way to the World Trade Center, Riker’s health took a turn for the worse, and he told his parents that he was experiencing the “worst headaches” he had ever experienced.
“There was a building over there, and we walked through it, and as soon as we walked through it he said, ‘Oh, I have a really bad headache. This is the worst headache I’ve ever had. ”’ Stipic told local media. .
Riker Stipik wanted to go to New York for the 10th time in his life. His parents spoke to FOX 7 about his birthday. (FOX 7 Austin, via David Stipic)
After some time, the birthday boy vomited and lay down near the bench to rest.
“It was like a scream of pain,” Stipik said.
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They took him to the hospital, where doctors placed him in a medically induced coma.
“As awful as that may sound, it’s awful, you know what I mean?” Stipic said.
Doctors said they believe Riker experienced an arteriovenous malformation, an abnormal connection between an artery and a vein. (FOX 7 Austin, via David Stipic)
Doctors in New York City told Riker’s parents that he may be experiencing an arteriovenous malformation. Arteriovenous malformations are abnormal connections between arteries and veins that can cause bleeding into the brain or spinal cord.
Doctors said the 10-year-old suffered an aneurysm in his artery and vein, causing excruciating pain.
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Surgeons had to make a hole in Riker’s skull to drain blood and fluids and remove the clot.
“We don’t have any real hope of if he’ll ever get out of this, when he’ll recover, what kind of treatments and treatment he’ll need in the future,” Stipic said.
The Stipics told FOX 7 they have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the Texas community after their son became seriously ill. (FOX 7 Austin, via David Stipic)
Doctors will need to perform an MRI scan on the boy before giving the family a formal diagnosis.
They told Riker’s parents that he needed to be stabilized and weaned off the tubes and machines before a full diagnosis could be made.
Now, the Stipics are praying that their son will wake up from his coma and that their many questions about his health will be answered.
“I never expected this to become a reality, but it did,” Stipik said.
The family’s support system, including the Texas church, rallied around the family during the nightmare.
The senior pastor of their church, Peace of Christ Church, started a GoFundMe account, which raised more than $78,000 in just a few days.
“I have no other words of gratitude than to thank you all,” Stipik said.
