Healing in Norwalk, CT: A Lifeline for One Medically Complex Child

It’s important to first understand just how David’s story is a miracle that spans nearly a decade. At just two and a half years old, he suffered a ruptured brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM)—a rare condition where tangled veins and arteries in the brain can rupture without warning.

“He was perfectly healthy that morning,” Tasaly recalls. “By the afternoon, he was fighting for his life, and none of us knew why.”

That April day in 2018 began like any other. David walked into his aunt’s house, where she was caring for him, and picked a flower for her—a small gesture she still celebrates every year on the anniversary of his survival. But hours later, he became unresponsive and limp. “He didn’t want his bottle, he couldn’t walk, and he wasn’t answering,” Tasaly remembers. “By the time I got the call, he was being rushed to the hospital.”

Doctors discovered that a major artery had fed into a tangle of veins that had ruptured, flooding part of his brain. The injury was catastrophic. “One doctor told me it was like a ticking time bomb,” she says. “He wouldn’t have survived if it had happened later in life. But I had faith the entire time. His recovery was divine intervention.”

David spent nearly a year in the hospital, relearning how to walk and talk. Today, he lives with some residual effects—cerebral palsy, seizures, and a brace on his right leg—but his spirit is unshakable. “He’s a fighter,” his mom says. “He doesn’t let his brain injury define him.”
 

Because of his medical history, David has spent much of his childhood in and out of emergency rooms. Even a mild cold can trigger seizures, and small bumps or falls require careful evaluation. “We’ve become what I jokingly call ‘frequent flyers’ in the ER,” Tasaly says. “Any little thing—a fever, an asthma flare, a bump to the head—can mean another visit. I always have to think fast about where to take him and who can handle his needs.”

Those repeated experiences made it painfully clear how important specialized pediatric emergency care is for families like hers.

Finding care closer to home

After moving to Connecticut in 2020, the family found themselves at Norwalk Hospital several times. In those early years, Tasaly often faced tough decisions.

“Norwalk didn’t have a pediatric unit then,” she explains. “So every time David needed urgent care, I had to decide whether to risk a long drive to another hospital or take him somewhere closer that might not be fully equipped for kids. It was a terrible feeling as a parent.”
 

Everything changed the day David was injured playing soccer at school this past fall. He tripped over a rock and hit his head—something that, because of his history, always requires immediate evaluation. Without realizing that the new pediatric emergency center had opened, Tasaly rushed to Norwalk.

What she found was completely different from what she expected. “We walked into a room that felt warm,” she says. “There were colorful sea creatures on the walls, nurses who spoke to David with such compassion, and a doctor who made him feel safe from the moment he walked in.”

That doctor was Dr. Vella, one of Connecticut Children’s pediatric emergency medicine physicians now serving the community through the Cohen Pediatric Emergency Center. “He came in with a smile, talked directly to David, and explained everything in a way he could understand,” Tasaly says. “I watched my son’s body relax for the first time ever in an ER.”

“Children with special needs such as David deserve and I believe benefit from specialized pediatric care when they have an emergency need,” says Dr. Vella. “This new service at Norwalk Hospital provided by Connecticut Children's is a fantastic development for pediatric patients in the area and we are happy to be there if and when they need us!"

When Dr. Vella said David was ready to go home, David didn’t want to leave—a first for the boy who once spent a year in the hospital. “He actually wanted to stay,” Tasaly laughs. “Before we left, he insisted on giving Dr. Vella a hug.”
 

That simple moment represented something much bigger. “This place isn’t just life-saving—it’s spirit-saving,” Tasaly says. “I can’t tell you the relief I feel knowing that if something happens, we have a local ER where my son is treated with expertise and heart.”

For families like hers, the Cohen Pediatric Emergency Center represents progress, hope, and belonging. “This is such a diverse community,” Tasaly adds. “There are so many kids here with different needs. We shouldn’t have to go outside our community to make sure our children are cared for. Now, we don’t have to.”

As October just marked both AVM Awareness Month and David’s 10th birthday, Tasaly reflects on how far her family has come. “God saved him for a reason,” she says. “He’s here to do great things—and now, he finally has the care he deserves, right here in his hometown.”

"He radiates joy and empathy beyond his years."

Anyone who meets David can’t help but be drawn to his kind, gentle spirit. Despite everything he’s been through, he radiates joy and empathy beyond his years. He’s the first to offer a smile, a hug, or a helping hand—whether to comfort a classmate or cheer up a nurse. His mom often says that David’s kindness is his superpower, one that shines through in every interaction. It’s this tender heart, paired with his remarkable resilience, that continues to inspire everyone who crosses his path.