How a Teen Football Player’s Concussion Uncovered a Rare Brain Malformation: A Journey Through Months of Mysterious Symptoms

Logan Coleridge has been playing football since he was six. He was used to hits and even had a few concussions. But everything changed in August 2023 when a helmet-to-helmet hit left him with severe symptoms.

Logan, a New Jersey teenager, felt intense dizziness and trouble balancing. His memory was so bad that he struggled with schoolwork. He even had a “severe” sensitivity to light and constant headaches. “I had concussions before, and this wasn’t like them,” Logan said. “I knew something was wrong.”

Despite months of physical therapy, Logan wasn’t getting better. His mom, Becky Coleridge, grew increasingly worried. A neurologist prescribed medications, but their side effects were tough to handle. An orthopedic doctor looked at his neck, but nothing seemed to help. Missing school became a regular occurrence for Logan, and over-the-counter medication did little to ease his pain.

Finally, in early spring 2024, Logan saw a concussion specialist after a particularly bad headache. The specialist couldn’t believe Logan hadn’t had an MRI sooner. After the scan, the results were shocking: Logan was diagnosed with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), an unusual tangle of blood vessels in the brain.

Dr. Andrew Russman, an expert at the Cleveland Clinic, explains that AVMs can put pressure on nearby vessels, leading to various symptoms. The biggest worry is that they can rupture and cause brain bleeding. Though Logan’s AVM hadn’t ruptured, it still produced severe symptoms that affected his daily life.

The Coleridges faced two treatment options: radiation therapy or surgery. They chose surgery with Dr. Howard Riina at NYU Langone, believing it would provide a more immediate solution. “His whole life was impacted by these headaches,” Riina noted. “They wanted to fix things quickly.”

Logan underwent the operation on July 17, 2024. Three days later, he went home. The summer that followed was lonely; he missed his favorite activities, especially football. “I was just stuck in bed,” he shared, reflecting on the physical toll.

Now, Logan experiences only occasional headaches, manageable with medication. During regular follow-ups, his doctor reported that everything looks good. The Coleridges now advocate for earlier testing for AVMs, wishing Logan had received an MRI sooner to avoid months of confusion and suffering.

This year, Logan’s life has turned around. He no longer misses school, celebrated turning 16, and even started driving. This summer, he spent time at the beach with friends and is excited to return to the football field. “This experience changed me. I’m focusing on a new beginning,” Logan said.

Raising awareness about AVMs is crucial because many, like Logan, might go undiagnosed for too long. A study from the American Journal of Neurology revealed that timely intervention can significantly improve outcomes. As we learn more about such conditions, early detection can make a world of difference in a young athlete’s life.

For more information on AVMs and their treatment, you can visit the Cleveland Clinic for resources.

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Health, New York University, New Jersey, New York City, Cleveland Clinic