Jeremy Greenamyre's seizure treatment
After experiencing a seizure at the age of 47, Jeremy underwent surgery to remove a cavernous angioma.
Summer 2024 was unfolding as usual for Jeremy Greenamyre and his family. However, it became one to remember when he woke up Saturday, June 22, in a hospital, facing the prospect of brain surgery.
“I had no warning signs or signals,” said Greenamyre, a 47-year-old real estate executive from Kansas City, Kansas. “I went to sleep, had a seizure in the middle of the night, and woke up in the hospital the next morning. My wife had a ringside seat to the whole ordeal.”
Expertise increases confidence in treatment plan
Fortunately, Greenamyre’s wife, Meiken, who works in physician relations for HCA Midwest Health, acted quickly. Leveraging her familiarity with the HCA system, she ensured Jeremy was hospitalized at Overland Park Regional Medical Center. There, he was placed under the expert care of neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Harvey.
Greenamyre was diagnosed with a cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM), a rare condition where a cluster of small, irregular, thin-walled blood vessels forms in the brain. The CCM cluster, which resembles small mulberries, had leaked blood, triggering Jeremy’s seizure.
Jeremy was presented with two treatment options: take anti-seizure medication for life or undergo surgery to remove the problematic blood vessels. He opted for surgery.
“The choice was really a no-brainer for me — no pun intended,” Greenamyre quipped. “I’m relatively young, and I didn’t want to be tied to daily medication for the rest of my life. Plus, my wife’s confidence in Dr. Harvey made all the difference. Her comfort with him put me at ease.”
Greenamyre added, “Dr. Harvey was very enjoyable to talk to. He explained everything in layman’s terms, so I always understood what was happening. I felt completely comfortable in his care.
Compassionate care + speedy recovery = life back to normal
Luckily, the CCM was located in a quiet, or silent, area of the brain near the skull, allowing for a minimally invasive procedure, despite its two-hour duration.
“When I tell people I had brain surgery, you can tell they’re imagining the worst — like something out of a TV drama,” Greenamyre said. “But it wasn’t that bad. I have a nickel-sized hole in my skull sealed with a titanium cap. I had three or four weeks of recovery and was released back into the wild to my normal life. My hair has even grown back. I realize I still had brain surgery, but if you have to have brain surgery, this is the kind you want to have.”
Greenamyre expressed gratitude for the compassionate care he received at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.
“The whole team was on their A-game,” he said. “Everyone from intake to the nurses to the food staff was fantastic. I’m now under the post-surgery care of Dr. Stacy Younger and as for Dr. Harvey — I will always have time to gladly shake the hand of the guy who performed my brain surgery. No doubt about that.”