Witten Shane Daniel, a 6-year-old from Lubbock, Texas, experienced severe complications following a bout with the flu in April. His symptoms escalated from eye twitching and dizziness to an inability to speak, move, or breathe on his own. Initial tests at a Lubbock hospital suggested a tumor, but further evaluation identified a cavernoma—a cluster of abnormal blood vessels—in his brainstem.
Doctors in Lubbock informed Witten’s mother, Casey Daniel, that surgery was too risky and recommended managing his symptoms at home with life support equipment. “Within half a day, he lost his ability to speak, move, and breathe on his own,” Casey said. “The cavernoma was hemorrhaging; his situation went from bad to worse in a heartbeat.”
Dr. Manish N. Shah of McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston explained the rarity and seriousness of Witten’s condition: “Cavernomas are typically present from birth, but they often remain unnoticed and cause no problems for years. In children, bleeding like Witten experienced is very uncommon,” he said. He added that when such lesions occur in the brainstem, they can be especially dangerous.
Determined to find help for her son, Casey contacted Dr. Jacques J. Morcos after reading about operable cavernomas in adults. She sent him Witten’s medical scans along with an urgent request for assistance. Dr. Morcos responded quickly: “Within 12 hours, I received a call from Dr. Morcos, telling me that Witten’s cavernoma was indeed operable. He told me to get to Houston as soon as possible because he was certain it would re-bleed, which would cost him his life.”
On June 1st, Witten was transported to Houston and underwent surgery four days later at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. The procedure was performed by Drs. Morcos and Shah without complications.
“Operating on a brainstem cavernoma requires a high level of skill and experience. The goal for the surgeon is to navigate a mine field to reach the target. It’s also like being a masterful burglar who can slip in and out without a trace,” Morcos explained. “One slight move can easily kill the patient.”
After surgery, Witten recovered rapidly—he began speaking within hours and walked five days later with physical therapy support.
Casey expressed her gratitude for the care her son received: “From the moment we were picked up in Lubbock to the moment we left, every member of the health care team was there for Witten. Every question I had was answered, no matter how small. The sole focus of everyone was Witten’s recovery,” she said.
Today, Witten has returned to school as a second grader and resumed activities such as playing baseball and riding his bike.
Casey hopes sharing their story will benefit other families dealing with rare conditions: "Our experience really underscores the importance of having a centralized database where people can research rare medical conditions and identify the specialists who treat them," she said.
Both surgeons emphasized Casey's role throughout her son's ordeal: “She wouldn’t give up and explored every possible option to save her son,” Morcos said. “Without her, Witten would not be alive today.”
Reflecting on their journey, Casey added: “When I see Witten back to doing the activities he loves, I’m reminded of how close we came to losing him,” she said. “I will always be grateful to the medical team who gave him a second chance.”
