Teenage Stroke Victim Considers Herself Medical Miracle

By Heather Shannon

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HINGHAM, SHEBOYGAN COUNTY-- 16 year old Maddy Kaat is a healthy, athletic junior at Oostburg High School.  But she had a medical scare on Monday night while at volleyball practice.

"My arm started tingling and the side of my face started tingling," Maddy said.  "The ball just fell through my hands."

The school trainer recommended going to the emergency room, which the Kaats did, but they weren't worried, since Maddy is young and athletic.  Then they got the shocking news: a blood clot in Maddy's brain caused a stroke.

"It was surreal," said Maddy's mom Shelly.  "It's like you weren't even living in it.  It took a good 10 to 15 minutes to grasp what was going on and that we had to flight to save our daughter's life.  We were running out of time."

They had 90  minutes to get to Froedtert, and break up the clot before it did permanent damage, or worse.  But while in the Flight for Life helicopter on the way to Froedtert, Maddy miraculously passed the clot on her own and it broke up, saving her life.

"I always had a faith, but that he pushed me to that level.  Something like this that goes from fatal to me taking baby aspirin; there's got to be a God," Maddy said.

Maddy's quick recovery is surprising, but more kids have strokes than you might think.  Each year six out of every 100 thousand kids in America has a stroke.  Maddy credits prayers from family and friends and her positive attitude for her speedy and miraculous recovery.  And while she won't be able to practice with her volleyball team for a while, as soon as she was released from the hospital she let her teammates know she'll be back in the game soon.

"I opened the door and they just started running at me and giving me hugs," Maddy said.

"There were alot of tears," Shelly added.

Maddy went on: "Everyone just started bawling.  It was a good cry though."

Maddy went to a half day of school on Thursday.  She remains on baby aspirin and is being monitored closely.  Doctors are trying to figure out what caused the blood clot and how she passed it on her own.