By Darren Lum

Published June 20 2017

After a few months of medical care and rehabilitation in Toronto (with weekend passes) local teenager Ryan Prentice is looking forward to spending Canada Day at home in Minden.

The Haliburton Highlands Secondary School student was admitted to St. Michael’s Hospital on Friday April 7 after he suffered a spontaneous brain hemorrhage from undetected arterial venous malformation. A gofundme page (https://www.gofundme.com/s75twc-rooting-for-ryan) raised $20193 in two months by 171 people. A day of unity was held when students and community members wore Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s Highland Storm clothing or anything blue the main colour of the Storm.

The hockey-loving teen has some trouble with his short-term memory but has been receiving therapy at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto where he sees a team that includes a speech language pathologist a physiotherapist an occupational therapist and social workers daily. While not at therapy he has been assisted with getting high school credits through Holland Bloorview and is hopeful and appreciative to everyone.

“Ryan has been very positive throughout this whole ordeal and wants everyone to know that he really appreciates all the prayers and support the he and his family have received from everyone. Thank you so much” his father Tom wrote.

There is some trouble with some short- term memory but he is scheduled to be discharged from the rehabilitation hospital on June 29. He will return to St. Michaels on July 12 for a meeting with a neurosurgeon to discuss the plan of action for his arterial venous malformation which is the “largest one they have ever seen in a brain” he said.

It’s unknown at this time whether the next course of action could prevent another bleed he said.
“Hopefully after our visit with the neurosurgeon in July we will understand more about what they can do for him” he said.