My name is Rene' Lynn DePottey, I had a lot of fun in my youth, some not so smart. I had fallen off a back of a car a few times. This one time I remember I know because I bounce so hard on my head and kept bouncing I had time to think about it. I went home and was not well for a few days. When my Brain Aneurysm ordeal was over they ask: Had I ever hit my head real hard, this story of my last time I rode on the back of a car came to mind.
I was in a hot tub getting ready for work. My 11year old and 8 year old daughters were home. All of a sudden it felt like a person shoved a ice pick thru my right eye. I got out and passed out and before I did I told my daughter to go get Denny who lived down the block. He brought my girlfriend Cheryl and she took me to an emergency client. They sent her to the hospital with me. I was in and out of reality or awareness. I lost time from leaving the client till 8 weeks later.
The first 5 weeks were in coma and then a week or so in the halls coloring and being the age of 4 or so. Did not know my family but I did not know I was someone. I was as my mom says, there but gone. After that, I was sent to another hospital for rehabilitation. About into my second or third week there I remember standing in the reflection glass at my self and heard people in the hall way. I look and it was my mom and sister who had never left my side, I was told. They were talking to the doctors about placing ME in a convalescent home. I don't know what happened but I SNAP back into my head. Too bad it was with a loss of 10 years.
I did not know my house, my car, nor my children. But I knew something, I just wasn't sure yet what it was. There was a fighter in me. I knew I better smarten up, I knew I felt threatened. I told them and my mom repeatedly and loudly for a few days GET ME OUT OF HERE, TAKE ME HOME TO GET BETTER. My mother started taking me to her house and my house on daily outings. My mother had not lived around me in 20 years and we were not close so she did not know how bad I was feeling my way thru everything. She did not know how much I faked remembering and I let them just fill in the dots for me somewhat.
The court and Hospital gave my mother custody of me. Have I mentioned this happened in 1990 and I was 35 years old. I got to leave the hospitals. I could not afford one medicine that was for my joints and muscles. They wanted 700 dollars for a month. I refused it and dealt with the pain and kept moving and it worked it way out in time. We would go to my home and the girls would come visit me and we just all got used to a different me. It took time for them to trust me and with in 6 weeks we were on our own. We had our moments of fears and tears as I call it but we strived. When my mom went home Denny who worked second shift came over every night after work and helped with the dinners and talking to me. He was a dear friend for almost ten years at the time. Then he would go home when I would fall a sleep and the girls were a sleep. What a guy!!
A few great things came of this experience and a few bad things. The school put my daughter in 8th grade into a school work program made for 10th graders. She had her first tax paying job and has never been with out one since. She work janitorial for the schools. And now almost has her four year degree and a great job, and a grandson for me to love. My youngest is graduating with her four year in Aviation and in the Air National Guards. She will fly one of our birds in the sky.
Four years ago I married Denny and I am a happy women. I am no longer employable. I can't deal with noise or crowds. I can't remember a phone number from the book to the dial pad. I can't read a book unless it is for babies. I can't follow it nor do I remember the plots, characters, beginnings or middles by time I get to the end. My best friend is a note pad. I was left with epilepsy and some nasty head aches if I over load my head in a day.
So I keep my days calm and do the best I can. I scrapbook for keeping my memories. I have also wrote in a journal since 1984. Lucky me my books and photos kept what I had lost.
Update: 24 Jun 2002
I have loved all the mail I have received from the family. Thank you. I also feel I need to add that I do not have epileptic seizures now. The medicine I take works great for me. I feel so lucky for that.
Live much, Laugh often, and Love Much.