A mother’s gut instinct became a life-saving force after she noticed her 3-year-old daughter’s vacant stare and unusual silence – just hours later, the toddler was in a coma, fighting for her life.
Nearly three years ago, Stacy returned home from work and immediately noticed a change in her 3-year-old daughter. As the family prepared to head out for dinner, Lany appeared unusually lethargic – “very different from her usual tired or sleepy moments,” the 32-year-old mother told People.
“Her eyes were watery, like she had been crying, and there was a heaviness in her expression that I had never seen before,” Stacy said in her January 2026 interview with the outlet.
Although nothing outwardly dramatic had occurred, that look in her daughter’s eyes was enough for Stacy to take notice.
As they were leaving for dinner, “she suddenly stopped, sat down on the couch near the door, and didn’t seem to have the energy to move.”
The North Carolina mom continued, “Her eyes appeared unfocused, drifting in different directions. She answered us when we spoke to her, but it felt like she wasn’t really present.”
‘Gut feeling’
Stacy and Lany’s dad, Pablo, also 32, didn’t wait. Trusting their instincts, they took Lany straight to the hospital.
“I had a gut feeling something wasn’t right, even her dad, who sometimes would [say] I was exaggerating. Something told us we needed to take her to the hospital,” Stacy shared in a TikTok post alongside a clip that showed Pablo holding the sluggish-looking toddler.
Once they arrived at the hospital, doctors initially suspected Lany may have ingested something that made her drowsy, but her repeated complaints about head pain prompted further testing.
That’s when things took a turn for the worse.
‘Escalated quickly’
“While we were waiting for results, everything escalated quickly,” Stacy told People. “She suddenly began having a seizure. Within seconds, nurses and doctors rushed in. Seeing her seize [and] connected to oxygen was one of the most terrifying moments of my life.”
After having the seizure, the tiny tot was unconscious for almost six hours.
Doctors moved quickly and determined that Lany needed to be airlifted to another hospital – immediately.
“We couldn’t ride with her since several pediatric specialists had to treat her during the flight,” Stacy penned in the TikTok clip. “At the hospital, she was taken straight to intensive care. Dozens of doctors and nurses rushed around her, running tests and asking what had happened. All I could say was, “She was fine… and then she wasn’t.”
Major brain bleed
And then the heartbroken parents learned their sweet daughter had suffered a major brain bleed.
“They told us they planned to medically induce her into a coma to protect her brain while they tried to determine what caused the seizure and the bleed,” Stacy told People.
Then came another distressing moment. As doctors were preparing to induce the coma, Stacy and Pablo were pulled aside.
“At the same time, we were unexpectedly questioned by doctors and officers as they investigated whether her injuries could have been caused by trauma. That was devastating on top of an already unbearable situation.”
‘Parent’s worst nightmare’
But just as the team was about to move forward with the induced coma, something happened.
“As they were getting ready, she suddenly woke up. She began crying and calling out for us. Since she was responsive, they decided not to proceed with the coma,” Stacy continued, adding that despite the positive development, she felt “powerless.”
“Watching your child suffer while being unable to fix it is every parent’s worst nightmare,” she told People. “On top of that, being questioned as though we might have caused her injuries was emotionally crushing. I felt terrified, powerless, and broken all at once, but also desperate to stay strong for her.”
Tangled blood vessels
The next day, an MRI provided answers. Doctors diagnosed Lany with a cavernoma, that the Cleveland Clinic explains is “an abnormal tangle of blood vessels” that “are usually found in your brain, brainstem and spinal cord. The thin walls of these malformations may bleed, which can cause seizures or a stroke.”
In Lany’s case, the cavernoma had filled with blood and ruptured, triggering the seizure and brain bleed.
“Finally, we had an explanation,” Stacy said, adding her and Pablos felt “relief,” though the diagnosis was “overwhelming.” “We knew it wasn’t something we missed or caused; it was something she was born with.”
‘Doing beautifully’
Surgery was initially suggested, but because the cavernoma was located near Lany’s visual processing center, the risks were high. After multiple evaluations and opinions, Stacy and Pablo decided to monitor the condition instead.
“She was placed on seizure medication, which has worked incredibly well. She has not had a single seizure since,” the grateful mom shared. “Now, three years later, she continues to have yearly MRIs and sees a wonderful neurologist. We’re hopeful she may be able to stop taking medication next year. She’s thriving, healthy, and doing beautifully.”
‘Showed me a strength I didn’t know I had’
Reflecting on the terrifying ordeal, Stacy said it completely changed how she views her role as a mother.
“I no longer assume that if something is wrong, it will be obvious or immediately recognized by doctors,” she said. “I’ve learned to trust my intuition, speak up, and advocate relentlessly for my child.”
“I’ve learned that being a parent sometimes means pushing for answers, asking uncomfortable questions, and seeking second opinions,” she continued. “This journey made me more aware, more proactive, and more confident in my role as her protector. It also showed me a strength I didn’t know I had.”
What moment can you recall that your instinct has either saved you or a loved one from something tragic? Please let us know your stories and then share this with your friends so we can also hear from them!
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