Joyce
(Moderator)
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posted 4/19/07 5:57 PM
Hi - I survived a brain stem aneurysm 9/20/95. I had the bad headache at work and went home put myself to bed. At 1:30 I got up because the pain was overwhelming and I was vomiting. My husband was an idiot and didn't know what to do. I ended up DRIVING MYSELF to an immediate care center. They misdiagnosed and started filing me with pain killers until my husband had to come and get me. He actually left me the next morning to go to work. At 8:30 I woke up, went to the bathroom and collapsed on my bedroom floor. I was able to get up on my hands and knees, was having trouble getting air into my lungs. I heard a voice say, "Just get to the phone." I started dragging my half-paralyzed body towards the phone. I would take two or three steps and stop and sucked in air. I did this several times and heard the voice a total of 3-4 times. I believe I had a angel visitation. My story was printed in "Angels on Earth" Sept./Oct.'98 issue. I did get to the phone and was actually able to talk. I said "Stroke, I'm having a stroke." I don't know how that came out of my mouth I was in so much pain. The medics broke down my front door and took me to the first hospital. I was transported to the 2nd hospital after they discovered the brain bleed. They told me that I was one survivor of 10. The nurses kept asking me what caused the burns on my knees. I finally realized that I had burns on my knees from dragging my half-dead body across the carpet! I was at the 2nd hospital for 10 days because they couldn't locate the anuerysm. I had SIX arteriograms. My aneurysm was so difficult it was a fusiform (like a sausage) they transferred me to Methodist Hospital in Indy (that's where they take the race car drivers with head injuries from the Indianapolis 500). I had a miraculous recovery. I had the aneurysm on 9/20/95. Transferred to 3rd hospital on 10/4/95. I had a silent heart attack and if the surgery had been elective they would have cancelled it but the doctors didnot have any choice. Surgery the next morning (10/5/95) and it was pretty bad, but I came out of it and on 10/17 was transferred to 4th hospital for rehabiliation. I was so homesick I was crying all the time. My husband basically abandoned me and would not stay with me at all from the beginning. I came home on October 24, 1995 and was handing out candy on Halloween. I give God all the credit for my miracle recovery. I've been living with my disability for almost 12 years now. Very few permanent effects - I have two kinds of seizures but they're well controlled. I have some residual heart problems - high blood pressure and tachycardia. I lost my peripheral vision on the operating table so I can't drive. I feel blessed to be alive. I have seen my two girls go from 20 to 32 and 5 to 17. I have four grandchildren whom I love dearly. I have played the piano all my life and I am currently making my 3rd piano CD. I donated the first CDs proceeds to Methodist Hospital Support Groups for family members of victimes of stroke to help them understand how to help their loved ones. The second CD I donated to the troups in IRAQ because my piano skills are very stress-relieving and people even go to sleep listening to my CD. I'm starting to work on my 3rd CD and a foundation in Indianapolis which is dedicated to the healing power of music. If you would like to know more about my story and the Music-Wellness Initiative please e-mail me.
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