Courageous Lake Elsinore Teen Helps Raise Awareness About His Rare Health Condition

Lake Elsinore teen Carter Trudeau has been battling a rare health disorder in his right leg since he was since 6 years old, but he’s not letting his cane or his condition slow him down.

Carter, 13, is a straight-A student who plays baseball, has an intense interest in Greek mythology, is an avid inventor, and he loves his pet bird.

He’s does normal kid stuff, but life hasn’t been easy.

Carter is recovering from a major surgery that is meant to correct the contraction in his right leg caused by a rare condition called vascular malformation. He’s been suffering from the disorder since he was 6, but the disease wasn’t diagnosed and treated until recently.

Vascular malformation is a rare type of congenital vascular growth that’s made up of arteries, veins, capillaries, or lymphatic vessels. These abnormal clusters occur during fetal development, however they may not become a problem until weeks or years after birth. The lesions typically grow as the child grows, which causes pain, hemophilia, and difficulty wearing shoes or clothing. 

Due to his pain, Carter walked on his toes for seven years. After years of seeking a proper diagnosis for Carter’s condition, his mother Pamela Trudeau, 33, found a doctor who specializes in vascular malformation. 

Dr. Wayne Yakes, a specialist at the Vascular Malformation Center at the Swedish Medical Center in Denver, Colo., confirmed Carter's condition and started to perform a series of procedures that consisted of injecting ethanol into the arteries. The treatment is designed to prevent lesion growth by scarring the lining of the arteries that supply blood to the lesion areas.

After several successful treatment sessions, Carter’s battle with vascular malformation was brought under control.

As a next step, the family decided on a major surgery to correct the contraction in his leg. Following the surgery, Carter’s leg was put into an external fixture that had to be tightened throughout the day for three months. 

During this time Carter cried everyday due to the intense pain, and was challenged physically and emotionally, Pamela said.

"Whenever you think you’re having a bad day, think about how those going through recovery feel," she said. "Whenever I feel down about something, it puts it all into perspective and I know there are more important things to worry about."

Although Carter’s well on his way to recovery, his journey isn’t over. He attends physical therapy two times a week, and he's not yet fully balanced on his feet. 

"Even though he walks with a cane, Carter holds the door open for other people," Pamela said. "I can't believe how compassionate he is. Here he is with a cane, and he is holding the door for others." 

Today, Carter does everything his peers do. He’s not the fastest kid on the baseball field, but he’s not the last one in the dugout either. 

Looking ahead, Carter plans on attending college and he looks forward to inventing new technologies.

He’s also helping his mom bring attention to vascular malformation.

In order to raise awareness and money to support those with the condition, Pamela has created Lion Snaps shoe clip-ons. The fun clips attach to shoe laces and shoe tops. They are designed to show support to those who are recovering from vascular malformation and arteriovenous malformation surgeries, and to remind people “to take one step at a time,” Pamela explained.

The Lion Snaps are $2 each and all funds raised go to The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation, and the AVM Survivors Network.

The name Lion Snaps came about during Carter’s recovery from surgery, when he was given a stuffed lion for his bravery. 

“He is my brave and courageous lion," Pamela said.

For further information on Lion Snaps, email lionSnaps@verizon.net.