Albany resident Kaiden Blaszko was only 11 years old when he suffered a stroke that nearly killed him.

During the school’s lunchtime break on April 1, Kaiden felt a headache coming on and tried to get up, but found he couldn’t move his right leg. He was unstable on his feet and had trouble focussing on anything as he dragged himself to the school office.

By the time he was admitted to Albany Regional Hospital he had become paralysed in his right side. A CT scan confirmed that Kaiden had a bleed in his brain and was put into an induced coma and rushed by the Royal Flying Doctor to Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital in Perth.

Kaiden was diagnosed with Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) which is a tangled mesh of abnormal and poorly formed blood vessels. They run a high risk of bleeding and are most commonly found in the brain. AMV’s only occur in approximately three out of 10,000 people.

Kaiden’s parents were informed by the doctors at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital that their son’s operation required to remove the AVM would be fatal as it was so deep in his brain. Following an angiogram to scope how much damage the bleed had caused, Kaiden miraculously woke the next morning with partial movement in his right side and not only recognised his parents but was also able to respond to their questions. Kaiden’s first questions of his own were if he could still play sport on the weekend and if he had brain damage.

The following day, Kaiden was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital where he was kept until the Thursday before Easter.

Kaiden’s uncle contacted the West Coast Eagles to see if his nephew, who is an Eagles supporter, could have the opportunity to be paid a visit by one of the players. Kaiden had become quite despondent by the news that he would not be allowed to return home to Albany for five to six weeks, was missing his brothers and was devastated by the fact that he would miss out on playing so much of his favourite sport: football.

West Coast utility Brent Staker responded straight away to the request and was able to meet Kaiden whilst in hospital waiting for the swelling in his brain to subside.

Staker and his brave new friend spent time chatting about football, Kaiden’s recent condition and signing posters and shirts for him and his brothers. Kaiden was so excited he could hardly stand and his legs were constantly shaking.

The Blaszko family then went to the West Coast Eagles open training sessions every Thursday where each week Brent Staker sought him out from the crowd, enquired about his progress, introduced him to fellow teammates and had posters and shirts signed for him by the team.

The weekly visits to Subiaco Oval became a very important part of this lucky boy’s life and his parents believe it’s what truly gave him the mental strength to keep fighting through the tough period.

In May, Kaiden had an embolisation which involves the AVM being filled with glue to block it from bleeding again. Following the eight hour procedure which was very successful, Kaiden received the news that he would be allowed to return home in a couple of weeks. Before returning home to Albany, Kaiden visited Brent Staker one last time at the club to thank him for all he had done.

Staker was only too happy to oblige, saying that Kaiden is a huge inspiration to the boys at the club by putting football into a perspective.

“Kaiden is an amazing young man who can do anything he sets his mind to. He is a true inspiration to all of us at the club and will be welcome back should he ever want to visit again,” said Staker.

Kaiden is now back at school part-time and the only side-effect of his traumatic experience is the loss of his peripheral vision in his right eye. Kaiden will need to continue to come up to Perth for several follow-up appointments and is waiting on the clearance from the doctors to start playing football again.