Patient Relations
From heart attack to better health: A patient’s journey through JHAH’s first-of-its-kind cardiac rehab program
From a heart attack to better health, Greg Noakes shares his recovery journey through JHAH’s first-of-its-kind cardiac rehab program ›
Over the course of several months, Husain Ali Al Mahdi’s parents had grown deeply concerned about their young boy’s increasingly troubling symptoms. The 16-month-old wasn’t growing like other children his age, his head was notably large, he often cried through the night due to debilitating headaches and frequent vomiting, and his small body was becoming more unsteady by the day.
As his symptoms worsened, his parents knew they had to seek professional help and rushed him to a regional hospital for examination. What came next was a flurry of tests, scans, and consultations before the diagnosis was finally confirmed: Husain was suffering from an arachnoid cyst, a fluid-filled sac that forms between the brain and the membrane that surrounds it.
“Our hearts dropped the moment we learned the results,” Husain’s father recalled. “We had never heard of this condition before — it was an unexpected and terrifying term that left us in shock, unsure of what would happen to our son.”
Thanks to the rapid intervention of a leading Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) neurosurgeon, the family’s story of despair turned to one of hope, with Husain making a full recovery and resuming normal, pain-free growth.
Following Husain’s initial diagnosis, the doctor at the regional hospital explained that although arachnoid cysts are oftentimes benign, Husain’s symptoms indicated the cyst was large enough to put pressure on his brain, and he would need immediate surgery to drain the fluid and prevent further complications.
But the hospital that diagnosed Husain didn’t have the capabilities to perform such a complex procedure. In this dire and time-sensitive situation, Husain’s medical team looked to JHAH, where Husain had previously received care as an infant.
Husain and his parents were referred into the care of Dr. Salah Al-Akkad, a top neurosurgeon utilizing specialized navigation techniques to locate and precisely treat brain lesions. His family drove straight to JHAH from the first hospital, requiring immediate care.
Time was of the essence, so Dr. Al-Akkad and Rensy Jose, a JHAH staff member who handled Husain’s referral from his previous hospital, rushed out to the parking lot to meet the family and prep Husain for surgery.
As Dr. Al-Akkad took Husain into surgery, Rensy Jose stood with Husain’s parents in the parking lot, comforting them as the JHAH team evaluated the severity of their son’s condition.
JHAH’s staff understands that while our medical team is treating patients, their families are in need of support too,
Jose said. “The idea of a child’s brain surgery alone is a terrifying prospect for a parent, and the Al Mahdi family just needed to be reassured that their son was in the best possible hands.”
Over the next several hours, Dr. Al-Akkad led a highly experienced team of three neurosurgeons and multiple supporting nurses and associates to insert a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt to drain the fluid from the cyst.
“Although some arachnoid cysts do not require treatment, in this case it was imperative that we addressed the cyst quickly and carefully, as it was located in a sensitive area and Husain was at such a vulnerable age,” said Dr. Al-Akkad. “I am pleased that the surgery was successful, and I am proud of the team for their precision and skill that allowed us to safely relieve the pressure from the child’s brain.”
Thanks to the quick and decisive action of Dr. Al-Akkad and his team, Husain’s head returned to its normal size and he continued to regain his strength and recover over the next two days at JHAH, which is typical for a surgery of this magnitude. Throughout their time at JHAH, Husain’s parents stayed by their son’s side, receiving updates and guidance from Husain’s medical team as they prepared to support his recovery at home.
I am so thankful that Husain was sent to JHAH for this surgery,
Mr. Al Mahdi said, recalling the ordeal. “Words cannot express how grateful I am to Dr. Al-Akkad for his skill and expertise, and to Rensy Jose and the JHAH staff for supporting my family through such a difficult time. My son’s quality of life has drastically improved, and I am thrilled to watch him continue to grow without pain.”
Click here for more information about JHAH's neurosurgery services