Some heroes wear capes. Others, like 13-year-old Aiden East, wear determination like armor and fight their way back from the unthinkable.
Aiden’s story is one of resilience, faith and the unwavering love of family and friends — especially his younger brother, Connor, his best friend, Jackson, and his beloved dogs, Millie and Molly.
A Morning That Changed Everything
On the morning of November 25, Aiden’s mother, Stephanie, found him collapsed in their Zachary home’s gym room, barely responsive, with the left side of his face drooping and his speech slurred.
“I immediately picked him up and took him to our local hospital,” Stephanie recalls. “We thought he had hit his head, but after a CT scan, they told me he had a very large brain bleed.”
Aiden was quickly sedated, intubated and transferred to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge.
That’s where Stephanie and her husband, Brian, met Jillian Ploof, DO, a fellowship-trained pediatric neurosurgeon. Dr. Ploof delivered devastating news: Aiden had not suffered head trauma — he had an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a tangle of abnormal blood vessels in his brain that had ruptured.
“She told me, ‘If we don’t do surgery right now, he won’t be with us,’” Stephanie remembers.
The surgical team worked quickly, performing a decompressive hemicraniectomy, a surgical procedure that removes part of the skull on one side of the head, to relieve the pressure in Aiden’s brain. He spent days on a ventilator, giving his body time to rest and heal.
Fighting His Way Back
When Aiden woke up, the entire left side of his body was paralyzed.
“It was really hard as a parent,” Stephanie says. “One minute, he’s a healthy, active kid, and the next, he can’t move his left side at all.”
But Aiden’s fighting spirit never wavered. Slowly, he regained movement — first a toe wiggle, then small movements in his leg. Encouraged by each milestone, he pushed himself through therapy at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital and other healthcare partners.
His motivation? Getting home for Christmas to see his dogs, Millie and Molly.
“From the time he opened his eyes, he asked about his puppies,” Stephanie says. “The therapy dogs at the hospital brought him so much joy, and when we could finally take him outside to see Millie and Molly, that meant the world to him.”
The Power of Family and Friendship
Throughout his recovery, Aiden had a powerful support system. His younger brother, Connor, 11, found creative ways to engage him, even thumb-wrestling when Aiden could only move one hand.
Aiden’s best friend, Jackson, was able to visit in the hospital, and he played a key role in Aiden’s emotional recovery.
“Jackson didn’t make a big deal about Aiden’s struggles — he just jumped in to help,” Stephanie shares. “When Aiden couldn’t hold the controller, Jackson would prop his hand up so they could play video games together. It was such a touching moment.”
The two friends continued making memories after Aiden returned home. When a rare Louisiana snow day arrived, Jackson made sure Aiden didn’t miss out.
“Aiden didn’t have the upper body strength to hold onto the sled rope,” Stephanie says. “So, Jackson laid down, let Aiden climb on his back, and held the rope for both of them so they could sled together.”
Looking to the Future
Thanks to his incredible progress in therapy, Aiden was able to return home much sooner than expected. He continues outpatient therapy and is regaining strength in his arm and hand.
His goals? Running longer distances, improving his fine motor skills and hopefully hitting the ski slopes again one day.
Aiden’s prognosis is incredibly positive. His brain is actively overcoming the injury, and doctors expect him to experience very few long-term effects. The only lasting impact may be some slight weakness on his left side, but otherwise, he is expected to lead a normal, active life.
Exceptional Care from an Exceptional Team
Brian, Stephanie and the entire family are incredibly thankful for the entire team at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.
“I cannot put into words how much we appreciate them,” Stephanie says. “Every nurse, every doctor, even the janitorial staff were all so kind, so loving and so good to us.”
Their expertise, compassion and dedication made all the difference in Aiden’s journey to recovery.
“Dr. Ploof has been absolutely amazing,” Stephanie says. “She told me early on that Aiden was strong, and she was right. Every bit of this journey has been a reminder that God was with us every step of the way.”
On February 8, Aiden will be honored as an Our Lady of the Lake’s Geaux Hero during the LSU Men’s Basketball game against Ole Miss. Aiden’s older sister, Gracie, is a student at LSU.
Aiden’s story is one of hope, perseverance and the impact of unwavering support. Whether through the dedication of his medical team, the love of his family, or the loyalty of his best friend and dogs, one thing is clear — Aiden is a true Geaux Hero.
