For 18-year-old Grant Brouillette, life is best lived outdoors.
Whether he is crouching behind home plate as a catcher for St. Michael’s baseball team or casting a line in a high school fishing tournament, he brings quiet determination to everything he does.
But sometimes, life throws a curveball.
Last November, Grant found himself on second base after hitting a solid double when he experienced a focal seizure.
At the time, his parents, Tiffany and Chad, were not sure exactly what happened. They immediately rushed Grant to the hospital, fearing a return of a medical crisis from years past.
Instead, they found a dedicated medical team, a clear path forward and a community ready to rally behind their son.
A History of Overcoming the Odds
Grant’s medical journey did not begin on that second base bag in November. To understand his resilience, you have to look back to 2019 when he was 11.
Grant was diagnosed with a cavernous malformation, which caused a brain bleed. During that initial scare, the family relied on the expert care of FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital pediatric neurologist Lori McBride, MD, who expertly guided Grant and his family through his recovery.
After regular scans and careful monitoring, he was eventually cleared. For years, the lesion on his brain remained quiet, and Grant went back to doing what he loves most.
When the seizure happened on the baseball field, Tiffany and Chad immediately thought of the 2019 malformation, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
Exceptional Care When It Matters Most
Upon arriving at the emergency room, the family was met by an attentive and proactive ER doctor. He suspected seizure activity and immediately ordered a new MRI to compare with Grant’s 2019 scans.
To the family’s immense relief, the scans showed that the lesion had not changed or grown. The next day, during an EEG (electroencephalogram to record his brain’s electrical activity), Grant experienced two more seizures, confirming the diagnosis.
Through it all, the care team at FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital provided steady, compassionate support.
Pediatric emergency medicine specialist Hitesh Chheda, MD, left a lasting impression on the family, offering brilliant clinical expertise wrapped in genuine empathy. He took the time to explain the situation, outline the next steps and reassure Grant that his life on the field was far from over.
Managing the Game Plan
Finding the exact trigger for Grant’s seizures remains an ongoing process. Because the brain lesion is located in a highly sensitive area, neurologists and neurosurgeons determined that operating would be more detrimental than leaving it alone. Instead, they opted for a medical management route, starting Grant on seizure medication.
After another seizure occurred while Grant was playing baseball after sprinting around the bases for a triple, his medical team began exploring how increased heart rates and adrenaline might play a role. This led the family to Bryan Hathorn, MD, interventional cardiologist with FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake.
Grant recently met with Dr. Hathorn to undergo a comprehensive cardiac workup. Between an EKG, a stress test and wearing a heart monitor, specialists are leaving no stone unturned. The collaboration between cardiology and neurology highlights the comprehensive, specialized care necessary to keep Grant healthy and active.
Adjusting to a New Normal
For a fiercely independent high school senior, the most difficult restriction hasn’t been the medical tests. It has been losing his driving privileges. Medical guidelines require a patient to be seizure-free for six months before getting back behind the wheel.
While giving up his keys is tough, Grant’s family has stepped up to the plate. His younger brother, Gavin, recently got his driving permit and attends the same school. As long as Grant or another adult is in the truck, Gavin can act as Grant’s chauffeur. It is a true team effort, reflecting the strong bond between the brothers, who also happen to be partners on the high school fishing team.
Garrett, the youngest of the Brouillette brothers, is always there to cheer Grant on, whether it’s at a baseball game or a fishing tournament. The bond between the three brothers helps make Grant’s journey easier, knowing he can always count on his family to be there for him.
An Experience to Remember
During a visit to our Children’s Hospital with the LSU Baseball team, Grant had the opportunity to meet the players when President & CEO E.J. Kuiper delivered custom FMOL Health-branded Beats headphones to the team. It was there that Grant met LSU outfielder Jake Brown, who offered words of encouragement and gifted Grant his own baseball bat.
The gesture left a lasting mark. The players rallied around Grant, offering unwavering support and proving that no one fights their battles alone. For Grant, getting the chance to thank Jake and have the bat signed is a top priority.
On May 2, Grant will be recognized as one of Our Lady of the Lake’s Geaux Heroes during the LSU Baseball game against South Carolina, celebrating his resilience, determination and the unwavering support of his family and community.
Looking Ahead to the Next Inning
Grant is not one to make excuses. After his diagnosis, his only goal was getting back on the baseball field and returning to the water.
With graduation just around the corner, Grant’s future is remarkably bright. He will be heading to Southeastern Louisiana University in the fall, where he will join the fishing team. Academically, he hopes to pursue a degree in criminal justice with a clear career goal in mind: becoming a game warden. It is a fitting ambition for an avid outdoorsman who respects the rules of law and the rules of nature.
Through every appointment, test and medical hurdle, Grant faces adversity with a calm demeanor, a strong swing and a determination to keep moving forward.
