Vinnie’s Story

Site created on March 1, 2018

On Tuesday, February 27th 2018 Vinnie was complaining of a headache which he thought was from his ear infection.  At 3:30 am his wife, Debbie drove him to Mercy Hospital for pains in the back of his head.  After he was checked in, nurses began to draw blood and take him back for a cat scan.

It was during this time, Vinnie had a heart attack and Code Blue was announced. The doctors revived Vinnie back to life and got him stabled enough for a  breathing tube to complete the cat scan. This is when doctors noticed there was a massive amount of blood in his brain and he was then airlifted to Iowa City. 
The 15-minute helicopter ride turned into 40 minutes, his blood pressure kept dropping and he was immediately rushed in for emergency surgery. Where the Doctors placed an External Ventricular Drain (EVD) a device used in neurosurgery to treat hydrocephalus and relieve elevated intracranial pressure when the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inside the brain is obstructed.

During this time Debbie and their oldest daughter, Alysse left Dubuque, Iowa and drove an hour and a half to Iowa City, Iowa while their youngest daughter, Brittany booked the first flight back from New York to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to meet at them the hospital. 

This is when the Nero Surgeons discovered Vinnie’s vertebral arteries are very weak (the major arteries of the neck). They found a tear in the weakened artery and pockets were forming. 
The Doctors called Vinnie's family for permission to perform an additional surgery needed, a brain stent was then placed in his right frontal hemispheres of his head.

Vinnie has a very rare disorder called Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). Which is cracking and weakening of the vessels in his brain. This disorder is similar to an aneurysm and being treated as one but isn’t. 

UPDATE: Less than one week later, Vinnie underwent a third brain surgery for an additional stent placed as reinforcement and coiling to fill the pocket in the artery from getting any larger. 
After spending 18 days in the Intensive Care Unit in Iowa City, Iowa, Vinnie was transported by ambulance back to Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa to begin the first part of his recovery in the Acute Rehabilitation Facility. To finish his recovery he will then be transported to a more intense Skilled Rehabilitation Facility. The location is still to be determined.  

(This site was created to inform Vinnie's Family and Closet Friends to keep everyone up to date on his current condition. We ask to keep this matter private and phone calls limited as his immediate family is focusing on his health and recovery. Please feel free to post comments and get well wishes for Vinnie as he will see his site made for him once he is in stable condition. *Please note, this site was created ONLY to inform you and NOT for any type of solicitations of any kind. The only support we ask for is your prayers. ) 

Thank you for all the Love and Support.

-The DeVenuta's












Newest Update

Day 64

Journal entry by Vinnie DeVenuta —

Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2018
Current Status: Recovery
Location: Home

After 64 days of living in the hospital and undergoing 3 brain surgeries, Vinnie is finally going home! He didn't recognize his home at first but settled in just fine, getting into everything and breaking stuff.

He spent his afternoon sitting on the front porch enjoying the beautiful weather. Vinnie already indulged in his cigarettes and beer (NA), and there was no stopping him on this unhealthy habit.
His family ordered his Medical ID Bracelet for him and still requires 24-hour supervision for now.

For anyone who wants to visit Vinnie at home, feel free to contact a family member to make arrangments. Vinnie got his cell phone turned back on, and you can facetime him at Vincenzovinnie6@aol.com 

-FMDVINNIESTRONG
Read More of the journal titled "Day 64"
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