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The Paige Elizabeth Keely Foundation was created in honor of Paige Keely, who passed away at the age of 6, due to a brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM). Early AVM detection can help to change the course of this disease. If Paige’s AVM had been detected her doctors believe it could have been treated and she would likely still be here today. The mission of the Paige Elizabeth Keely Foundation is to increase funding for early AVM detection. Our vision is to raise awareness for AVM’s, educate communities about this treatable condition, and to establish early detection screening.
On January 8, 2018, Paige Keely was a seemingly perfect, bright eyed, energetic, beautiful 6-year-old from St. James, NY. Paige passed away as a result of a ruptured AVM (arteriovenous malformation). This is her story as told by her loving mother, Gina Keely.
Paige went off to school that day spunky and cute as ever. Little did I know that would be the last time I heard her voice, smelled her hair, and kissed her alive again! Paige was eating lunch when she went crying to the lunch aide, she had a really bad headache.
The school nurse called me immediately, since Paige wasn’t a “frequent flyer” at the nurse’s office. The nurse told me to come get her. Moments later she called me back saying they’ve called an ambulance - Paige is unresponsive. Paige vomited and began seizing and then went unresponsive. Paige continued to seize the whole ambulance ride. As we arrived at the hospital, they were on top of her trying to resuscitate her. Within a few short hours of pure torture, my daughter lost her life to an undiagnosed Brain Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM). Like so many who’ve lost their life or suffered from this “Silent Beast” AVM. Paige’s last words were “I have a really bad headache” Paige was only 6 years old. The Dr’s told us Paige was born with an AVM. It’s congenital and present from birth. I thought hearing my daughter didn’t survive was the worst …. Hearing the Dr’s tell me “If you knew it was there, it was likely operable, and Paige would be here today!” Paige’s death haunts our family every day. It’s effected and touched our community and so many who loved knew and loved her. This was unacceptable to me - knowing there is a treatable SILENT disease they can be diagnosed is out there! I needed to do something, and this is when the Paige Elizabeth Keely Foundation was formed.
A local nurse and Dr's heard about my mission and vision and knew they could help make it come to life! I'm privileged to have Dr. Kimon Bekelis, Director of The Stroke and Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island, he and his team are helping me make this all happen. We've established an early detection screening program, which is offered at no-cost, free CME programs for first responders, AVM awareness and education for our local schools & community. To take my mission, vision, and dream to the next level, I will be opening the first Brain imaging center on Long Island where we can continue our free screening but take it to the next level of preventative care and offer imaging. Imaging will be available to anyone, insured or not, and we will do a certain amount of free scans per year.
