CT Scan from May 1997 Click here to see larger image. Web Site Index

They were preparing for surgery, which would be devasting to Brooke's chances to existing outside a wheelchair.

They did an agiogram which involves entering a catheter in the main artery in the groin area. The catheter is led into the 4 main arteries in the brain and shoots a dye that can be seen on x-ray. This pin-points the affending artery exactly for surgical (steel knife) purpose.

A hollow "bolt" was inserted into her skull, after a hole being drilled so that a fiber optic strand can be inserted so it toches the brain. This device measures the intra cranial pressure (ICP) to keep track of swelling. This was also done in preperation for surgery.

After the angiogram, the angiologist showed of the CT scan and we told them that this picture looked exactly like 1997. They did not have these pictures at their disposal yet. They decided that since this bleed was filling the original atrified space, and the bleed seemed to stop, and that surgery would be so dangerous, all plans were put on hold.

This photo is the CT scan ("cat" scan) of the injured area immediately following the 1997 episode. The view is from the back of the head. The CT scan from Dec 3, 2000 looks nearly identical to this.

The AVM is the size of a golf ball. It sits on the inner edge of the white area of this image. The bleed went in an outward direction, or toward the skull. The blood did not flow toward the brain stem, which is a more dangerous situation, since that part of the brain controls the most vital functions of life.