6-year-old Durango boy is recovering at home after COVID-19 jab, stroke, hospitalization

A 6-year-old Durango boy who had a stroke and became paralyzed following his experimental-use (EUA) COVID-19 vaccination has returned home to recover after his hospitalization.

Abel Short’s photo taken from his Gofundme page.

He is home and he’s under the care of his parents, said Karen Zink, the great aunt of Abel Short.

Zink was unwilling to talk much about Abel, saying that to do so would be speaking out of turn, given the private lifestyles of his parents.

However, Zink did say that 6-year-old Abel Short had received a COVID-19 vaccine. She did not know how long before his stroke he had received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech clot shot is the only one that’s been authorized for kids ages 5 to 11 years old.

At the time of his stroke, he did not have a COVID-19 infection, Zink said.

“About 2,000 kids a year in our country have strokes,” said Zink. “But not like this stroke.”

“He’s a darling little boy,” she said.

6-year old had a pediatric stroke

While strokes are a rare event for children, they are something that’s been reported on by John Hopkins Medicine:

Abel Short riding his bike at Fort Lewis College before his stroke. Photo taken from Abel’s Gofundme page.

“Pediatric stroke is a rare condition affecting one in every 4,000 newborns and an additional 2,000 older children each year. Stroke is a type of blood vessel (cerebrovascular) disorder. Strokes can be categorized as ischemic (caused by insufficient blood flow) and hemorrhagic (caused by bleeding into the brain). When a blood vessel in the brain is injured, the brain tissue around it loses blood supply and suffers injury as well. Treatments and long-term outcome in children are different for each type.

As with adults, without prompt and appropriate treatment, stroke in children can be life threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Stroke is among the top 10 causes of death in children. Pediatric stroke can also cause neurologic disability, with a risk of permanent long-term cognitive and motor impairment.”

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States, according to the American Stroke Association.

“A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (or ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die,” according to the American Stroke Association.

Causation of 6-year-old Abel Short’s stroke unknown to grandfather

The causation of Abel’s stroke was not explained to his grandfather, Steve Short, when he was visiting him at Children’s Hospital, said Steve Short.

“To my knowledge, that was unexplained by any of the doctors that came into contact with him at the Children’s Hospital,” said Short.

“I have no information about causation of what happened. I have not heard anything–any speculation even–as to what caused it,” Steve Short said.

6-year-old Abel Short has limited use of his body at this time, according to his grandfather.

“He does have some movement, and he is receiving physical therapy at this point,” said Short.

“He’s not paralyzed, he has very limited use of his limbs and his body. He is able to move enough and receiving physical therapy in hopes that he will have some level of recovery,” he said.

Abel Short’s parents–Kelly Pritchard and Jonathon Short, did not return my phone calls where I left each of them a voicemail.

^^Photos taken from Abel Short’s Gofundme page. ^^

Online Gofundme fundraiser to benefit 6-year-old Abel Short

Abel Short’s photo taken from the Gofundme page supporting his recovery.

An online fundraiser to benefit the recovery of Abel Short has been created on GoFundMe by Jen Nail LaCroix.

In January, 6-year-old Abel Short was hospitalized and flown to the ICU of Children’s Hospital in Denver.

He underwent brain surgery and was placed on a ventilator. After being taken off of the ventilator he was unable to speak or move his body, according to the updates written on the Gofundme page.

Warning signs of a pediatric stroke

Difficulty with speaking and face drooping are some of the following symptoms of a stroke, according to the American Stroke Association:

• Sudden severe headache, especially with vomiting and sleepiness
• Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body (face, arm and/or leg)
• Sudden confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding others
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• New onset of seizures, usually on one side of the body

Adam Howell is a writer who believes in free press and the importance of the constitution. He can be reached by clicking on this link to the contact page.