A teenage football player had months of symptoms after a concussion. Doctors found a rare brain malformation.

Logan Coleridge, a high school football player from New Jersey, had always been accustomed to taking hits on the field. However, after a particularly hard helmet-to-helmet impact during his freshman year in August 2023, he began experiencing debilitating symptoms. Logan struggled with dizziness, balance issues, memory problems, severe light sensitivity, and intense headaches. These symptoms were unlike any he had experienced from previous concussions.

Despite undergoing several months of physical therapy and trying various medications, Logan’s condition did not improve. His mother, Becky Coleridge, sought answers from multiple doctors, but it wasn’t until Logan saw a concussion specialist in early spring 2024 that progress was made. The specialist recommended an MRI and X-ray of Logan’s neck, which led to a shocking diagnosis: arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

An AVM is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels in the brain that can cause a variety of symptoms and poses a risk of rupturing and bleeding. Logan’s AVM was located in a critical area of his brain, likely contributing to his severe headaches and other symptoms. The Coleridges opted for surgery with Dr. Howard Riina at NYU Langone to remove the AVM, as radiation therapy was deemed too slow of a solution.

After undergoing surgery in July 2024, Logan faced a challenging recovery period but eventually saw significant improvement. His headaches became less frequent and manageable with medication, and follow-up appointments showed clear results. Logan’s return to normalcy included being able to attend school regularly, celebrate his 16th birthday, and even resume driving lessons. He is now looking forward to returning to the football field.

The Coleridge family is now advocating for early testing to prevent others from experiencing the same prolonged suffering and confusion they went through. Logan’s journey has been a turning point in his life, and he is grateful for the opportunity to leave that difficult time behind and focus on a fresh start.

This inspiring story of resilience and perseverance highlights the importance of early detection and treatment for conditions like AVM. Logan’s determination to overcome adversity serves as a reminder of the strength that lies within each of us when faced with life’s challenges.