COEUR d'ALENE - Jamie Jonz was already worried about her newborn son's health when a neurologist informed her that the boy suffered a stroke during heart surgery.

"I had never heard of a kid having a stroke," Jonz said Thursday. "I felt like I had been hit by a ton of bricks. We weren't sure what to do at that point or where to go."

Aidan was only 2 months old when he underwent a procedure to fix holes in his heart. While connected to the bypass machine, he suffered three small bleeds on the left side of his brain. Jonz and her family didn't know for sure until an MRI was conducted on little Aidan four days after the operation.

"We didn't really know anything except he came out of surgery and his pupils were unevenly dilated," Jonz said. "That's a sign of brain damage."

The experience rocked Jonz's world and set her on a path to learn more about pediatric strokes and connect with other families that have experienced the same thing.

"I was scared and I felt like I had no answers," the Hayden mom said. "I wasn't prepared for this to happen."

She said she has since learned that anybody with a brain can have a stroke, from unborn babies, newborns, children and teens all the way to seniors.

Aidan, now 6, is a happy, healthy, superhero-loving little boy, but the pediatric stroke he suffered does affect his daily life. He has balance and coordination issues, has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and is enrolled in occupational and physical therapy. While many children who suffer strokes will experience speech and reading problems, Jonz is happy to report that isn't the case with her kiddo.

"He's in kindergarten and he's reading," she said. "He doesn't walk, he runs everywhere."

Jonz said although is it uncertain where Aidan's journey will take them, she and his dad, Sean, sister Addison, 9, and the rest of their family will be taking it day by day and supporting him as much as possible, hoping for the best each step of the way.

"Never doubt your child's ability," Jamie said. "A lot of times people focus on what their child can't do, and on the disability itself, but they'll be amazed what their child can do. They may take a different path getting there, but they'll get there all the same."

To bring awareness to the issue, raise funds and honor the families and victims of pediatric stroke, Jonz has organized the "Streak (your hair) for Pediatric Stroke Awareness" event, taking place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Summer Sun, 6235 N. Sunshine Street in Coeur d'Alene. People will have the opportunity to add some purple to their hair and nails for a small fee while they recognize May as Pediatric Stroke Awareness Month in Idaho, as proclaimed by Gov. Butch Otter.

"I feel like we are really lucky in knowing the cause of Aidan's stroke," Jamie said. "We may not have all the answers as far as what is yet to come, but we do know what caused his stroke. So many families don't have that, which is really scary."

According to the American Stroke Association, between 20-40 percent of children die after a stroke. About 3,000 U.S. children and young adults suffered strokes in 2004.

"My hope is that parents will never hear those words," Jonz said. "Research is needed. Awareness is needed. Please come support this wonderful cause and spread some awareness."

Info: www.chasa.org or http://on.fb.me/1Q4kErW