Teen Football Player’s Struggle with AVM Diagnosis

Logan Coleridge, a high school football player, has been tackling challenges since he started playing at the age of six. Unfortunately, a helmet-to-helmet hit during a game in August 2023 led to severe health issues. After the incident, he began experiencing debilitating dizziness and trouble with balance. His memory took a hit, and light sensitivity became unbearable. Previously an attentive student, he found it increasingly hard to focus and remember assignments.

“I’ve had concussions before, but this felt different,” Logan remarked, expressing his concern about the severity of his symptoms.

Things became more disconcerting as Logan did not show signs of improvement. Despite months of physical therapy, his mom, Becky, noted that he continued to suffer from headaches and had been unable to attend school regularly. Medications prescribed by a neurologist had adverse side effects, and an orthopedic doctor’s suggestion to examine Logan’s neck yielded no answers. Becky sought an MRI for Logan, but that request was met with resistance.

In early spring 2024, after enduring a particularly intense headache, Logan finally consulted a concussion specialist.

“His first reaction was shock that no one had recommended an MRI,” Becky recalled. The specialist ordered both an MRI and an X-ray to investigate further. They suspected an issue with Logan’s occipital nerve, which could help explain the persistent symptoms.

The results were alarming: Logan was diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in his brain—a term that was new to both him and his family.

“Reading about it was frightening,” Becky shared. “We understood just how serious his condition was.”

Understanding Arteriovenous Malformations

An AVM is basically an abnormal tangle of blood vessels in the brain, according to Dr. Andrew Russman from the Cleveland Clinic. This condition can create significant pressure on veins, leading to various symptoms, and poses a high risk of rupture, which causes bleeding in the brain.

Even if the AVM hasn’t burst, it can still result in issues like motor skill difficulties, sensory problems, or disruptions in vision and language. These symptoms can vary based on where in the brain the AVM occurs.

The Coleridge family faced two treatment options for Logan: radiation therapy or surgery. After weighing their options, they chose surgery with Dr. Howard Riina at NYU Langone, as radiation therapy could take too long for Logan’s needs.

“His life was heavily impacted by those headaches,” Dr. Riina stated. “They were in search of an immediate solution.” He explained that the AVM was located in a region of the brain linked to headaches and was likely the source of Logan’s recent struggles. Interestingly, people are born with AVMs, and they can worsen as the person develops.

“The concussion led to the imaging that unveiled the AVM, which probably was the culprit behind the headaches all along,” he added.

Turning the Page

Logan underwent surgery on July 17, 2024, almost a year after his symptoms first began. Dr. Riina performed a craniotomy to remove the AVM. Within three days, Logan was back home to start his recovery. He described his summer as lonely since he couldn’t participate in the sports he used to enjoy.

“I was mostly stuck in bed, unable to do the things that I love, like exercising and playing football,” Logan explained.

Now, his headaches have significantly decreased and can be managed with medication. Although he has follow-up appointments, everything appears to be clear. The family is now advocating for early testing; Becky hopes that an earlier MRI for Logan could have spared them months of uncertainty and pain.

Logan feels like this year has brought a complete turnaround. He no longer misses school, has celebrated his 16th birthday, and even begun taking driving lessons. This summer, he spent a lot of time at the beach with friends, and he’s preparing to return to the football field.

“This whole experience was a crucial turning point for me,” Logan reflected. “I’m moving past it and focusing on a new beginning.”