The Walton Centre's lifesaving care of a patient has inspired her to become a nurse

In 2021, Demi Morris, from Wrexham, was 17 when she was working her way through her final A-level exams when she suffered a bleed on the brain.

Rushed to The Walton Centre for lifesaving surgery, the initial procedure was deemed too risky, reverting to an open brain operation instead.

It was discovered that Demi had an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), which is a tangle of blood vessels in the brain or on the brain surface. This causes blood to bypass the usual network of vessels and flows directly from arteries to veins. Demi’s AVM ruptured massively, causing haemorrhaging.

Demi said: “I’d just finished an eight-hour shift at the chip shop I worked at near home with a bad headache. I blacked out and woke up in intensive care at The Walton Centre. I couldn’t believe it, but I understand now how bad it was. The bleed was described as catastrophic.”

The surgical team at the specialist neurosciences hospital attempted to embolise. This procedure is where a catheter is used to deliver special materials like medical glue or particles into the abnormal vessels. This blocks blood flow to the AVM, reducing its size, helping to protect against bleeding, but this was deemed too risky. After monitoring, the team decided to perform a bifrontal craniotomy in order to excise the AVM.

Demi said: “The operation took 12 hours, but ultimately they were able to remove the AVM. I was able to recover and go back to college to complete my A-levels. At this point I had already been inspired to pursue a career in nursing. I was blown away by the level of care and professionalism I received at The Walton Centre.”

Fast-forward to the summer of 2022, Demi had a check-up scan, which revealed the AVM had returned.

Demi continued: “I was on a family holiday when I got the call from the hospital to return as soon as possible. We cut the trip short and came to The Walton Centre the next day. I was devastated, but I knew it was something that could happen.”

Demi’s clinicians ruled out further surgery owing to the risky area of the brain her AVM was in. The Trust referred her for stereotactic radiosurgery at Sheffield Teaching Hospital. The procedure involves targeted therapy which could significantly reduce or even eliminate the AVM and risk of it returning.

Demi said: “This procedure involved having a metal frame drilled to my head. The frame is crucial to the treatment and forms the basis for accurately identifying the position of the AVM. It was cumbersome wearing a metal frame for 13 hours at a time, but ultimately, they eliminated the AVM. I’m so grateful!”

Now, Demi has completed her nursing degree at Wrexham University, and has taken up a nursing post on a surgical ward. She said: “I’d rather not have had something like an AVM happen to me, but the big positive I’ve taken from it is that it’s inspired me to become a nurse. I feel so proud to have achieved my goal of completing my nursing degree. I would love to work in neurology one day. I want to care for people who are going through what I have experienced.

“I also think it’s important to show people that there is life after brain injury. That, despite setbacks, you can do anything! I will be forever thankful for the care I received at The Walton Centre. It literally changed my life.”