11-year-old threw up blood, put into 10-day coma after tonsil surgery goes wrong

An 11-year-old boy put into a medically-induced coma after complications from his tonsillectomy now must relearn basic motor skills, his Wisconsin family says.

Liam Klaver had routine tonsil surgery on March 17, but four days later he was back in the hospital when he “experienced a massive bleed at home,” his mother, Ashleigh Klaver, said in a Facebook post.

Liam hadn’t been healing after the surgery and threw up blood shortly before being taken to the hospital, loved ones said in a GoFundMe.

“Doctors discovered a post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in his right carotid artery, which led to cardiac arrest during emergency surgery,” the mother said.

Now nearly three weeks later, the New Berlin boy remains in the hospital.

For 10 days, Liam was put into a medically-induced coma before being removed from a ventilator on March 31, Klaver said.

He was able to move his arms and legs some, but Liam had a long journey ahead of him, loved ones said in the GoFundMe.

“He’s having to learn to eat again, to speak, to walk, to talk,” his grandmother, Tanya Coye, told TMJ4.

The last thing Liam remembered was going to lacrosse practice on March 16, his mom said, adding that Liam “did not take the news very well” when he learned he had been in the hospital for weeks.

“He is crying and saying he wants to go home,” she said on Facebook.

Liam is facing the likelihood of another surgery after a blood clot was found in his artery, family members told TMJ4. Luckily, he is expected to make a recovery.

“As family friends, our hearts break for Liam and we can’t wait to be able to see him again!” they said in the GoFundMe. “Liam is such a kind and loving boy, it’s always such a joy to be around him!”

New Berlin is about a 15-mile drive southwest from Milwaukee.

This story was originally published April 8, 2025 at 8:50 AM with the headline "11-year-old threw up blood, put into 10-day coma after tonsil surgery goes wrong."