Parents are sharing their tragic story in hopes of raising awareness about a rare medical condition that claimed the life of their beloved daughter. Hannah Teklic, a 9-year-old from Sydney, Australia, suddenly fell ill after going to bed normally one night in May. She complained of a severe headache and neck pain before tragically passing away just days later.
Despite initially attributing the pain to physical activity days earlier, Hannah’s mother, Wasima Lamrani, gave her daughter pain relief medication. However, Hannah’s condition quickly deteriorated as she started vomiting, had a seizure, and stopped breathing in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Emergency surgery was performed to alleviate pressure on her brain, but she was declared brain dead a couple of days later.
Doctors informed Hannah’s devastated parents that she had suffered from an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a rare condition where abnormal blood vessel connections disrupt blood flow and oxygen supply to tissues. AVM is challenging to detect through scans, and symptoms often do not appear until a rupture occurs.
Hannah’s parents, Ivan Teklic and Wasima Lamrani, hope that sharing their daughter’s story will help others recognize the symptoms of AVM, which can include sudden and severe headaches, vomiting, vision issues, seizures, muscle weakness, and more. Described as a free spirit with a kind heart, Hannah’s funeral was held recently, and she will be laid to rest in her mother’s homeland, Ireland.
The family’s GoFundMe page has been set up to support them during this difficult time, with the organizer emphasizing the impact of Hannah’s loss on those who knew and loved her. The community mourns the loss of a bright and loving soul who brought joy to all around her.