Strength in Support

Great care, good friends help 19-year-old stroke survivor

“If you’re faced with a serious medical issue, the most important thing is to surround yourself with good people,” says Macomb Community College student Eddie Constantineau.

At age 19, Eddie had a hemorrhagic stroke, or brain bleed, that led to emergency surgery at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital.

He is making good progress in his recovery, and his follow-up CT scans have been encouraging. “I am coping pretty well emotionally too, but some days are tough,” Eddie says. “Support from my family and visits from my friends help a lot.”

A life-changing moment at the gym

A lifelong sports enthusiast, Eddie was lifting weights at the gym when he experienced a sudden headache and left arm weakness. “I knew something was seriously wrong, so I asked someone at the front desk to call 911. I don’t remember much of what happened over the next few days,” he says.

Eddie was rushed by ambulance to the Emergency Department at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital. A CT scan taken there showed bleeding on the right side of the brain, which affects the left side of the body. Eddie’s stroke was caused by a tangle of abnormal blood vessels in the brain called an AVM or arteriovenous malformation. An AVM increases pressure in the veins, potentially causing them to rupture and bleed.

Expert care and a long road to recovery

Neurosurgeon Mark Goldberger, D.O., worked to remove Eddie’s AVM and stop the bleed. For the next 27 days, Eddie stayed at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital to begin his recovery. “The only thing I remember from that time is the ICU staff and their hospitality. They took incredible care of me and treated me like family,” he says.

After leaving the hospital, Eddie spent 43 days in inpatient rehabilitation to rebuild his strength and abilities. “I had to relearn to do just about everything,” Eddie says. In his ongoing outpatient therapy, he is learning to walk without a cane, improving strength in his left leg and working on the function of his left hand. He’s gradually getting back into physical condition with body-weight exercises and swimming.

Ongoing care and advanced treatment

Eddie’s post-surgery care is led by "neuroendovascular neurologist Mohammed Rehman, D.O.  Additional consultation is provided by Pouya Entezami, M.D., Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital.

“Eddie isn’t just recovering; he’s redefining what recovery looks like. His strength, resilience and determination have been remarkable,” Dr. Rehman says. “As a physician, it’s a privilege to walk alongside patients like Eddie—not just to treat their condition, but to support their comeback.”

Dr. Goldberger recently performed follow-up surgery to restore the bone flap in Eddie’s head. Next is a Gamma Knife procedure to target the one-centimeter section of Eddie’s AVM that could not be reached surgically. The Gamma Knife is a high-precision technology that delivers a dose of radiation directly to the affected blood vessel, causing it to scar and close over time.

Gratitude, resilience, and future goals

Eddie is taking it all in stride. “I am grateful to Dr. Goldberger for saving my life,” he says. “I am also thankful for the care and encouragement I continue to receive from Dr. Rehman, Dr. Entezami and my therapists. Support from my amazing family and friends keeps me going.”

Eddie’s health journey has only strengthened his hope to eventually become a physician assistant. “Right now, I look forward to getting my life back with friends, school and weightlifting,” he says.