April 6, 2019, is a day I’ll never remember, but I now can never forget. I’m told I had my morning cup of coffee in hand, about to enjoy an early cup with my boyfriend on our back porch. I woke up 3 weeks later, after a drug induced coma, with tubes attached to every orifice of my body. I was told I had a brain aneurysm rupture. I had to keep asking doctors and nurses and friends and family what happened to me and why was I in the hospital?! I’d heard of brain aneurysms before…but how? And why?! Why ME??? I’m still looking for those answers.
After 3 weeks of ICU, I was transferred to a brain injury rehab facility. I was 40 years old, but I had to relearn how to walk and talk. It wasn’t easy, but I was determined to be “ok”. When I got home, I was able to walk and talk but my brain wouldn’t let me know the difference between reality and the things going on in my mind. I’m still not always clear about that, I don’t know if that will ever go away.
Since April, I’ve had 3 brain surgeries. The ruptured aneurysm was coiled, the unruptured one they found was clipped 2 months later, and 2 weeks ago, stents were put in to the initial coils. I have more scars and holes in my head that I’d like admit. 10 months ago my brain exploded on me and I was given less than a 10% chance of survival. The doctors told my family to put me on hospice and that if by some miracle I wake up, I would have deficits for the rest of my life. Well, I woke up and came out kickin’ ass.
My world has been completely changed, some for the better, a lot for the worse, but am thankful for each day that I wake up. Don’t ever let anyone tell you you can’t do something, because with hard work and determination, you can! It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it!
