What happened to Vinnie? Doctors baffled by 'unexplained' seizure that left an adventurous three-year-old boy with irreversible brain damage
- Doctors are baffled by what caused a seizure which gave a boy, 3, brain damage
- Vinnie Fuller was just three when he suffered a seizure in February this year
- Months later, specialists are still none-the-wiser as to what happened to him
- He remains in hospital and is making positive steps but may never full recover
- A GoFundMe page has been set-up to help Vinnie during his rehabilitation
Vinnie Fuller (pictured) was just three years when he suffered a seizure brought on by an unexplained brain swelling
Doctors have been left baffled by a seizure which left an adventurous little boy with irreversible brain damage – in a case so rare there has been no other record of it in Australia.
Vinnie Fuller, aged three, suffered a seizure and an unexplained brain swelling while at a daycare centre in South West Rocks in the mid-north coast of New South Wales in February earlier this year.
Little Vinnie was flown to John Hunter Children's Hospital in Newcastle where he was put in a coma and left on a life support machine.
After multiple failed attempts to wake Vinnie, a keen bike rider and big fan of the beach, an MRI scan revealed he had unexplained brain swelling.
But after the family suffered weeks of waiting for the swelling to go down, a second MRI scan showed the swelling was so bad Vinnie might never make a full recovery.
And now, months after Vinnie suffered the seizure, specialists are still mystified by what could have caused it.
The adventurous three-year-old boy suffered a sudden seizure at a daycare centre
Months after Vinnie suffered the seizure, specialists are still mystified by what could have caused the brain swelling (Vinnie pictured centre)
A GoFundMe page has been set-up to support Vinnie and his parents, Cade Fuller and Nicole Fuller, throughout the traumatic time and through his rehabilitation.
Tragically, family friend Fiona Casey notes the family may never find out what caused the seizure and said doctors have not been able to give any insight into what Vinnie's future might hold.
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She wrote Vinnie's case is 'so unique that another of its kind has never been recorded in Australia'.
Vinnie still remains in the Children's Ward of the John Hunter Hospital but has made some positive progress.
Vinnie (pictured) still remains in the Children's Ward of the John Hunter Hospital but has made some positive progress
'To our delight, he is now fully conscious and seems aware of everything around him,' Ms Casey said.
'He is showing small signs of progress almost every day and continues to work hard in his rehabilitation sessions.'
But sadly she said that Vinnie has 'little control of his body' and 'lacks the ability to communicate'.
He's also confined to a wheelchair and is unable to complete tasks for himself.
Thankfully little Vinnie is expected to be allowed home in August, just before he celebrates his 4th birthday.
Ms Casey said Vinnie will continue to work on his rehabilitation every day and the family has 'high hopes for his future'.
But she said the family will need 'many modifications' to their home to help support Vinnie's transition.
'This includes the installation of mobility equipment around his house, and the purchase of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to support him as he continues to grow,' Ms Casey said.
Ms Casey said Vinnie's mother has put her work on hold in order to support her son full-time at the hospital.
You can donate to help Vinnie and his family by visiting the Keep Vinnie Smiling GoFundMe page. (Vinnie pictured)
His father has been working hard on the family business in an effort to make sure he supports his family financially.
He has also been travelling three-and-a-half hours to visit Vinnie every week.
'The most important goal Vinnie's family have set is to keep his big beautiful smile on his face,' Ms Casey wrote.
'If you speak to his mum you will hear her say 'if he can smile, so can we'.
'Let's take this opportunity to support Vinnie and his family and help relieve some of the financial pressure associated with purchasing a suitable vehicle and making Vinnie's transition as comfortable as possible.
'Let's do what we can to help them keep smiling,' Ms Casey concluded.
The GoFundMe page has raised $44,631 to help Vinnie and his family.
You can donate by visiting the Keep Vinnie Smiling GoFundMe page.
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