No Warning, It Just Popped
15 April 1999
My story goes something like this, on or about the third of February, 1986, an AVM burst in the right side of my brain no warning it just popped. My wife said later that I had vomited and complained of a headache, but I had no previous signs before this date.
The evening before my AVM burst I had spent the night in jail for public intoxication. I had gone into a market and spent around ten dollars on Actifed and asprin, went out to the car and passed out. The clerk called the police. They had a hard time waking me so to them I was drunk. No alcohol tests of any kind were given, I went straight to jail. As luck would have it my wifes best friend's brothers were jailors at that time so they helped get me out the next morning to go see my mother.
We were going to a Cincinnati hospital to visit my mother whom had been admitted the evening before for a stroke. I stepped out of the car in the parking lot and collapsed. Because we weren't at the emergency room door doctors refused to come to the lot to examine me. In turn the fire department had to be called. I understand a ladder truck was dispatched for firemen to take me into the hospital due to insurance purposes.
I spent thirty days there where I was paralyzed on my left side for two weeks then started physical and occupational therapy. When released I was sent to the V.A. Medical Center for out patient therapy. I was told I didn't need it and and sent home. A few days later Dr.Harry Van Lovern called and asked my wife and I to come to his office so he could explain what I had and what needed to be done to correct the problem. I was told at the first hospital that I had a 25 to 30 percent chance of an additional rupture per year. I lived past that point so we went to visit Dr.Van Lovern.
He explained they were going to cut through the left side of my brain to get to the AVM which was in the cerebrum on the right side by a fluid filled cavity. But once they got in there they separated my brain halves and went down the middle to the right side and cauterized the malformation. I was in the V.A. Medical Center for thirty one days. After that, and except for occasional head aches and being susceptible to seizures, which I take medication to prevent, I know that I have met two of the most amazing men on this GODS green earth. Doctors Harry Van Lovern and John Tew Jr.
Discussion, comments, or questions: Dave B.
© Copyright 1999 Dave B.
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