TikTok Creator Makes Miraculous Recovery
Since 2018, Michaela has been a bright presence on social media, dancing, laughing, and sharing her faith and positivity on TikTok. The influencer’s popular Yellow Room Live show has reached over a million viewers, who are uplifted and encouraged by her contagious energy, joy, and faith-filled messages.
One afternoon, just before going live, Michaela told her mother, Teia, that she had a headache and asked for medicine. Moments later, the 23-year-old collapsed.
A rare abnormal tangle of blood vessels, called an arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, had ruptured in her brain. She underwent four emergency surgeries, including a craniotomy to relieve life-threatening swelling in her brain.
When it came time to plan the next steps for her daughter’s recovery, Teia toured Gaylord Hospital and immediately knew it was the place that could best help Michaela regain what she had lost.
Teia recalls the day Michaela, who had a tracheotomy and was fed through a tube in her stomach, was admitted to Gaylord.
“I walked into her room and you could tell she had been cleaned up and cared for - she looked so beautiful. I went to find the nurse and hugged her,” she says, crying. “God put these people here to help. I could finally breathe again.”
Through months of hard work, complications, and setbacks, Michaela never stopped pushing forward in her recovery. When it was time to take the next step, Michaela transitioned to Gaylord’s Louis D. Traurig House to continue building strength, independence, and confidence. There, Michaela participated in daily group and individual outpatient therapy sessions while practicing essential living skills in a family-like environment.
Today, Michaela continues to benefit from Gaylord’s aquatic therapy program. She’s returned to being active on social media, using her platform to educate others about AVMs and inspire her TikTok family with faith and hope, reminding them that all things are possible – even in the most unlikely of circumstances.
This content is for educational purposes only and is meant to provide general information. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns about your health. In case of a medical emergency, contact your doctor or call 911 right away.