Young Stroke Survivor Inspired to Care for Others
Outdoor enthusiast, Aspiring heart imaging specialist, Faith-driven soul
“At 19, I had a stroke. Thanks to Dr. Joseph Adel and MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw, I’m now cured and embracing life fully.”
Loni Darabos was only 19 years old when she suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. It was the first time she needed the expertise of a cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgeon but it would not be her last. Joseph Adel, M.D., F.A.A.N.S., at MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw Comprehensive Stroke Center, has been with Darabos since 2017, providing both conservative and surgical solutions to address her symptoms and diagnoses. Her experience as a patient, along with the excellent care she received, inspired Darabos to pursue a medical career of her own.
Darabos first sought emergency treatment when was feeling an unusual headache followed by sudden left-sided weakness. She was familiar with the signs of a stroke and, fortunately, knew time was of the essence; she needed to act fast. She was taken by a family member to the Emergency Department at MyMichigan Medical Centre Towne Centre where a CT scan confirmed her suspicions. Before she left the ED, she experienced a second stroke.
“It was scary for sure,” Darabos shared. “They sent me to MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw which is where I first met Dr. Adel. It was around Thanksgiving. He asked me some common questions related to the holiday, and it was his effort to make a personal connection that helped calm me. He was very kind right from the start.”
Dr. Adel and his team at the Comprehensive Stroke Center ran additional tests on Darabos to get a better handle on her condition. “Further testing showed that Loni was experiencing hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body) and seizures as the result of a spontaneous hemorrhage,” Dr. Adel said. “We also identified a pituitary mass unrelated to her hemorrhage. We felt it best to carefully monitor her situation, believing the hemorrhage would reabsorb on its own. This approach was preferred over performing a complex surgery given all the information we had.”
Darabos recovered completely from the brain bleed, and Dr. Adel determined the cause: an irregularly formed blood vessel known as a cerebral cavernous malformation. He recommended to continue closely watching it.
“I visited Dr. Adel in his office regularly as he monitored my situation,” said Darabos. “He was very caring and provided me with a lot of information about my condition; knowledge is power. He also served as a great motivator for me. He encouraged me to be active and engaged with life, not to withdraw or be fearful of what might be. That meant so much. I knew he and his team would be there for me if anything were to happen.”
A few years later, in 2021, Darabos began experiencing new symptoms: memory difficulties, speech impairment and pressure on her brain. These new symptoms were attributed to the enlargement of the cavernous malformation with additional bleeding. She agreed with Dr. Adel that it was time for surgical intervention.
Given that the cavernoma was in a critical part of her brain controlling speech and memory, Dr. Adel performed a right frontal craniotomy to remove it while Darabos was awake and alert. Awake craniotomies are painless, less invasive and the surgeon can test speech, movement and brain function as he works.
“My surgery was during COVID, so visitors were limited to one; I chose my mom,” Darabos shared. “The hospital was quiet, but because I had spent so much time with Dr. Adel and his team beforehand, I felt comfortable and had complete trust in them.”
Darabos did very well with surgery with no new weaknesses or deficits. She spent time in the Neuro ICU, then the intermediate unit for a few days. She reported that the nursing and clinical teams took great care of her. They had her up and walking soon after surgery and, in time, she regained her memory. “I could tell they were there for the patients, not just the job,” said Darabos. “They even helped me FaceTime my family and friends while I recovered.”
Darabos, now 26, is cured from the cavernoma and will not have another bleed from it. She continues routine follow-up care with Dr. Adel to monitor the pituitary mass, which is stable, and remains symptom free. She is currently in school to become a cardiac sonographer. She will complete an internship at MyMichigan Medical Center Saginaw this fall (2025) with hopes she will work there following her internship. “I am so grateful to Dr. Adel and the entire team. I want to be there for others the way they were there for me,” she said.
Darabos also credits Dr. Adel for her commitment to embracing life. She sees her surgical success as a second chance and aims to make the most of it. She and her boyfriend love to be outdoors skiing, traveling, golfing and playing tennis. They are engaged and planning a wedding this year.
Those who would like more information on Dr. Adel may visit www.mymichigan.org/adel. Those seeking information about MyMichigan’s neurosciences care, including signs of a stroke and a free stroke risk assessment, may visit www.mymichigan.org/stroke.
