OVERCOMING THE ODDS: LINDSAY VOS’S TRIUMPHANT RECOVERY AFTER COMPLEX BRAIN SURGERY

The operation lasted 14 grueling hours. When former collegiate basketball player Lindsay Vos woke from a six-day medically induced coma, she was unable to move the left side of her body. Her medical journey had begun years earlier at the University of Toledo, where severe headaches led to the diagnosis of a dangerous brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM)—an abnormal connection between arteries and veins that risks catastrophic bleeding.

Her family’s medical history revealed that her late father carried hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), an inherited disorder linked to vascular malformations. After initial non-invasive treatments including catheter embolization and radiation failed to eliminate the large, high-risk AVM, Lindsay turned to the Cleveland Clinic’s Cerebrovascular Center. Neurosurgeon Dr. Mark Bain recommended microsurgery to remove the remaining dangerous vessel.

In January 2017, Lindsay underwent surgery. Mid-procedure, the AVM ruptured, causing massive hemorrhage. Although the surgical team successfully controlled the bleeding and completed the removal, Lindsay faced profound paralysis upon waking. She had to relearn basic movements, balance, and coordination from scratch.

Driven by an athlete’s resilience, Lindsay spent two months in intensive physical and occupational therapy. Progress was gradual but remarkable. She not only regained the ability to walk, but eventually returned to running and kayaking. While she retains slight limitations in her left arm, her debilitating headaches never returned. Dubbed “VOStrong” by the Cleveland Clinic, Lindsay’s story is a powerful testament to human strength and perseverance following life-altering adversity.