On September 5, 1992, while at a wedding reception I passed out (seizure). The next thing I knew I was in an ambulance saying" please don't let me die". The next thing I remember was in the ER and the nurse asked me if they could throw my clothes away since I lost control of myself. I was only 51 years and the only symptom I had was a sinus headache.
I don't remember too much after this except the doctors coming in to ICU each day checking my reflexes and saying they couldn't operate because I was too spastic and had to wait til I calmed dowm and in the meantime I had two strokes. I had two angiograms and two MRI's done. I really hated the angiograms. I finally had my surgery Oct. 14, 1992 done on my husband's birthday. I lay now in a coma for 10 days. So I spend two months in ICU. Finally on Nov. 6, I'm transfered ro the Mechanicsburg Rehab(now Healthsouth) for intensive therapy. I'm paralyzed on my left side and am nothing but a vegetable. I must learn everything over again. I can't swollow, sit, walk, eat, etc. I have a hard road in front of me.
Thank God for all the wonderful therapists and nurses who helped me along or I might be still lying in bed and also my doctor Dr. Michael Lupinacci. I spent 5 months there and was finally discharged March 12, 1993 and begun outpatient therapy for three months 5 days a week. I finally begun walking a little bit with the help of braces. I had three different braces as I progressed. In July I finally just went to an ankle support. Eventuallly I started walking without any. Since I'm so tight my fingers and toes double under and it makes it hard to walk, so I go in for four different surgeries to release the tendons in my toes, fingers, and archilles tendon. Then lots of therapy.
I am still tight so my doctor suggests I try Botox therapy which was fairly new. So I had three sessions of this done. This only lasts about three months and he didn't think I was benefiting from it that much so we decided to abandon this. Just this past Feb. I had my left wrist fused and tendons straightened. My wrist was dropping so much. Now I wear a splint on my hand at least 8 hours a day to keep my fingers from tightening up so much. My doctor never had anyone quite like me. I know it's since my muscles are so spastic.
My life now is somewhat better since I have taught myself to do a lot of every day chores. I'm the type I can't be still and have to have something to look forward to. My husband and I just started traveling. We could never do it raising 5 children, mostly didn't have the money too. This is what I planned on doing once the kids were raised and on their own. This isn't the way I planned it, but I'm trying to make the best of it. I noticed when we travel, mostly tours, I never see anyone in my situation. Maybe they don't want to function outside the home. I can't do everything ordinary people do, but I won't let this get the most of me. Don't get me wrong, but I'm very frustrated because I can't do all I use to. I live in a small town and I don't have anyone to relate to and need to find someone on the internet to e-mail to.
I like to thank all my family, relatives, and friends for their support. I couldn't have gotten through it all without you. I walk with a cane and cannot not drive so I have to rely on transportation from my family and friends. Since I had a seizure at the onset of my aneurysm I had to send in my license. So now I am dependent on everyone. This is one of the hardest things for me since before I was a pretty independent person. I could go on and on, but best to stop now. Thanks for listening to me.
Note from Linda's husband, Lester, 16 Aug 2001.
Please remove Linda's address from the list to recieve new narratives. as she is unable to function well enough to use the computer any longer. Tragically, her sight and cognitive skills have become so compromised that she can no longer use the computer. Her tolerance and stamina are very limited at this point and she will quickly become bedfast. Already she needs total assistance to transfer from bed to her wheelchair and to the bathroom. Hospice has been brought on board and no further treatment of the cancer will be sought.
Thank you to all who have expressed their care and concern Linda says farewell to all. Might I sugges that we change her byline from "I Walk With a Cane" to "I Will Fly With The Angels".