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11-Year-Old Survives Stroke After Freak Soccer Ball Accident
15 Nov
Summary
- 11-year-old Cole Ditmore suffered a stroke after a soccer ball hit him in the throat
- Marker in his mouth punctured his throat, compressing his carotid artery
- Ditmore spent 4 days in the Pediatric ICU, now recovering with physical therapy
On November 15, 2025, 11-year-old Cole Ditmore experienced a terrifying ordeal when a "freak accident" at his school in Louisiana left him suffering from a stroke. Ditmore was standing on the school playground with a marker in his mouth when a soccer ball accidentally struck him, shoving the marker into the back of his throat.
The impact of the ball caused a "small puncture hole" in Ditmore's throat, which then led to symptoms of a stroke. As Ditmore was being examined by an ENT specialist, he began slurring his words, experiencing facial muscle drooping, and struggling to move his left arm. Doctors immediately treated him under stroke protocol and transported him to the Pediatric ICU at the Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, where he spent four days recovering.
Doctors discovered that the marker in Ditmore's throat had compressed his carotid artery, creating a blood clot that caused the stroke. In the aftermath, Ditmore has been undergoing physical therapy and other treatments to aid his recovery. "The first thing he said to me, he was like, 'Mom, am I going to die?'" recalled Ditmore's mother, Angelina Frazier, who was unsure of her son's chances at the time.
Six months later, Ditmore is still experiencing some lingering effects from the stroke, having to reduce his physical activities while on blood thinners. "I've been trying my best to get back to my normal self. I don't know if I can, but I hope I can," the resilient 11-year-old told a local news outlet.
