Teen’s Health Crisis: From Sinus Infection to Brain Surgery

When winter arrived and high school volleyball season began, Aedan Jones, a 15-year-old from Fort Lauderdale, thought little of his stuffy nose and headache. They were just minor annoyances—not something to worry about.

However, a few days before Christmas, things took a turn for the worse. A fever set in, and when Aedan’s headache intensified, his mother decided it was time for a visit to urgent care. Doctors, after ruling out flu and COVID, recommended Motrin and Tylenol. For a short while, Aedan seemed to improve, but on Christmas Eve, his condition rapidly declined. He woke up unable to feel the left side of his face, his left eyelid drooping, and struggling to lift his left leg.

“When we got to Joe DiMaggio, he looked like he had a stroke,” recalled Jodi Washington, his mother.

The emergency room staff sprang into action, noticing the facial asymmetry, droopy eyelid, and confusion. The MRI scan revealed alarming news: a pocket of pus was lodged in Aedan’s frontal lobe, dangerously close to areas controlling speech and movement. A sinus infection, usually harmless, had managed to infiltrate his brain.

“We need to operate right away,” said Dr. Dean Hertzler, the neurosurgeon. “The pressure is building, and delay could mean irreversible damage.”

While it’s uncommon for sinus infections to evolve into brain infections in children, doctors are seeing it more frequently. “Thousands get sinus infections, but only a small percentage face complications. We typically see this in late elementary to teenage years,” Hertzler explained.

On Christmas Eve afternoon, Hertzler proceeded with extreme care in Aedan’s surgery. “The procedure is much less risky than leaving it untreated,” he emphasized. They first drained the pus from Aedan’s brain. “It was pretty infected, so we cleaned it out. Then the ENT doctor cleared the sinuses and took cultures to treat the infection,” he added.

During this time, the South Florida volleyball community rallied together, launching a GoFundMe page to support Aedan’s recovery. “Aedan is a passionate and competitive player who invests everything in his team and those around him,” noted Misty Connelly on the fundraising page. “Right now, he’s facing the toughest match of his life, but our community is standing by him.”

Connelly, a parent of a player from Ocean Bay Volleyball Club, shared, “Aedan has a vibrant personality and brings a lot of joy. He may not be the tallest, but he’s incredibly explosive on the court.” Teammates and rivals alike are eager to support him, fully aware of the long road ahead.

Despite a successful surgery at Joe DiMaggio, Aedan battled an infection that continued to spread in his brain. Just days later, he experienced an 18-minute seizure, and another MRI revealed a troubling pocket of pus behind his left eye, creating additional pressure.

Aedan was transferred to Miami’s Holtz Children’s Hospital for specialized care. “He’s been in intensive care this entire time,” Washington noted. “They removed the ventilator, and he’s breathing on his own again.”

At Holtz, Aedan has undergone multiple surgeries, including procedures to drain his sinuses again, remove bacteria near his eye, and address areas in his brain affecting movement on his right side. His medical team comprises various specialists.

“We’ve been using broad-spectrum antibiotics to combat the infection, and he has regained movement and the ability to speak,” shared Dr. Heather McCrea, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Holtz. “We have to rely on surgery when antibiotics aren’t effective quickly enough.”

Interestingly, the bacteria affecting Aedan while at Joe DiMaggio differed from those found at Holtz. “It’s likely that some of the bacteria were partially treated before, but others were still causing issues,” McCrea explained. “Now he’s on three different antibiotics at high doses to tackle anything that might linger.”

Aedan, the youngest of Washington’s three children, had just participated in a volleyball tournament in Los Angeles only nine days before entering the hospital. “He has a magnetic personality; he connects with anyone,” Washington remarked. “Even in the ICU, his wonderful spirit shines through.”

Every day, Aedan is actively working to regain his strength and skills. He is going through physical, occupational, and speech therapy. “He can communicate, though it’s not always easy for him. His speech is a bit slurred, but it’s improving,” his mother noted.

McCrea expressed satisfaction with Aedan’s progress, observing that he’s talking and walking. “He’s making remarkable strides. Soon, we’ll perform another MRI to ensure the infection is cleared.”

Washington realizes that recovery will be a lengthy process requiring both emotional and financial backing. She has been by her son’s side in the ICU day and night.

“I’m not one to ask for help,” she admitted. “Aedan has an incredibly supportive family, and we always find a way through. Yet, I genuinely appreciate the kindness from those who want to help.”

Meanwhile, McCrea and other pediatric neurosurgeons across the U.S. are researching why young patients have been experiencing increasing cases of sinus infections that spread to the brain in recent years. “We believe this may have increased in frequency post-COVID,” she stated. “We’re examining commonalities between these cases and evaluating treatments to enhance care for our patients.”

Doctors like Hertzler and McCrea urge parents to seek medical attention promptly when children, including teenagers, exhibit severe headaches or sinus pressure. “If it’s a true sinus infection, antibiotics are usually needed, and a pediatrician is the best first step,” they advise.