Model emily sears has brain surgery to remove abnormal blood vessels


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By ALISHA BUAYA FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 22:21 EDT, 29 June 2020 | Updated: 17:32 EDT, 30 June 2020 Australian model Emily Sears has revealed she underwent life-saving brain


surgery to remove a 'cluster of abnormal blood vessels' that caused epileptic seizures. On Monday, she shared a photo to Instagram of herself recovering from her operation at UCLA


Neurosurgery in Los Angeles, where she is based. The 35-year-old appeared to be fast asleep with bandages wrapped around her head after the procedure, which took place last Thursday. In the


caption, she revealed to her 4.9 million followers that she had suffered a major seizure in April 2019 and was rushed to hospital. After several days of tests, she was diagnosed with a


cavernous malformation, or cavernoma, which she explained was a 'cluster of abnormal blood vessels in the brain that cause epileptic seizures'. 'My whole life was put on hold


from that point on - from my work life to my social life, my relationship with my body and my identity,' she wrote. Emily opted to undergo craniotomy surgery because she did not want to


live on 'medication for the rest of my life'. By choosing to have the surgery, she risked losing her ability to speak. She was actually awake and speaking to doctors during the


operation because she needed to alert them if they removed any vital tissue along with the blood vessels. She explained: 'I remember every moment of being awake, there were two surgeons


and one waved at me... it was as strange and surreal as it sounds!' After the successful surgery, she was left with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. 'I am humbly grateful for


the ability to access healthcare, for the fact that my condition had a cure and for the support of my friends, family, industry peers and for my incredible man who has stuck by me the whole


time,' Emily wrote.