Jessica Muniz
A Recipe for Recovery: Jessica's Inspiring Path to Wellness After Brain Surgery
On April 19, 2024, Jessica Muniz, a Pompano Beach resident, encountered the beginning of a new health challenge. While sitting down for a family dinner, she experienced an inexplicable feeling.
“I felt funny, suddenly I couldn't speak,” Muniz said. “I thought I was having a seizure, but I was able to think clearly.”
Two days later, it happened again. This time, Muniz could not communicate and think clearly for about 10 seconds. Her husband became very concerned and decided to take her to the Emergency Department at Broward Health Imperial Point.
“I appreciated the team’s prompt service, they took me in right away,” Muniz said.
A Computed Tomography (CT) scan revealed Muniz had a tumor, also known as a brain cavernoma, which caused bleeding on the left side of her brain. She was immediately transferred to Broward Health North for comprehensive neurological care.
“I was in disbelief, I hadn’t experienced any headaches or pain,” Muniz said.
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, these types of tumors are groups of unusual, small blood vessels and larger, thin-walled blood vessels filled with blood found in the brain.
Muniz expected a brief hospital visit, but she was facing a life-changing medical procedure and was immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“I felt scared, but I was grateful Broward Health North allowed me to keep my emotional support puppy, Penny, with me,” Muniz said.
The following day, Muniz met Ali Ghods, M.D., a neurosurgeon with the Broward Health Physician Group, who informed her that she needed to have an awake craniotomy to remove the tumor and stop the bleeding. Keeping her awake and talking during the procedure allowed her care team to prevent damage to her speech area.
"I explained to Jessica that awake brain surgery was the safest way to remove the tumor while protecting her verbal functions," Dr. Ghods said. "I told her she might feel brief pressure in areas of the brain I couldn’t numb."
Muniz was anxious but faced this challenge with remarkable bravery. As she prepared for surgery, she was accompanied by her husband.
“I felt so confident with Dr. Ghods. He told me ‘No pain, no gain,'” Muniz said. “We shared east coast roots, and I was reassured by his honesty and straightforward approach. I knew he was going to save my life.”
Muniz vividly recalls the slight burning sensation from the anesthesia used to numb her entire scalp. Then, Dr. Ghods carefully shaved a section of Muniz's hair above her left ear before making an incision.
Jessica was awake throughout the entire surgery which lasted about two hours,” Dr. Ghods said. Throughout the procedure, Muniz had flashes of her family but remained strong for them.
Dr. Ghods used a medical drill to create an opening in her skull, allowing access to the brain to remove the tumor. During the surgery, Dr. Ghods stimulated an area of Muniz's brain near the tumor by sending an electrical current through the surface of the brain to map the important area of speech to prevent damage to that region. Meanwhile, the speech pathologist asked Muniz simple questions to assess whether the stimulation affected her neurological function.
Muniz shared stories with the surgical team, including how she and her husband met as children, reconnected decades later and recently married.
“The care at Broward Health North was exceptional, with attentive staff checking on me throughout the night,” said Muniz. “I felt like I had a whole team of caring mothers looking after me.”
Remarkably, Muniz was discharged just two days after surgery. She quickly recovered from her condition and demonstrated her coordination and ability to walk and talk.
Muniz is grateful for her family’s unwavering support and the medical professionals at Broward Health North that helped her recover.
To learn more about Neurological Services at Broward Health, click below.