It Seems Like A Long Road
25 March 2004
I have been reading these narratives for quite sometime now and have been very reluctant to post. I feel now I can!!
I had a very bad AVM bleed back in June of 2003. I was rushed to the hospital by rescue squad. I was in all of the right places at all of the right times. I ended up at the hospital where my neurosurgeon happened to be there at the time. I quickly went into a coma and was put on life support. I was in intensive care for most of my hospital stay.
I was later transferred to a rehab hospital in Northern VA. I had the best care and support I could have asked for. The one thing that is hardest for me is that I do not remember any of it. I did not recognize my family while in the hospital. That is very upsetting.
I had Gamma Knife surgery in September. I am praying that it works. However we won't know for a while. I have not worked since the bleed. I am hoping to return in July. We are just waiting to see if I can return to work.
Things have really changed for me, and I feel like a different person now after this has happened. The one thing that is the hardest for me is that I have damage to my short term memory. I get very frustrated a lot!! I don't know if I will get better as far as that goes.
I would love to hear from anyone who has been through this and is now OK!! It seems like a long road!!
Update: 28 June 2004
Well I just celebrated my 1 year aniv. from the date of my "brain bleed" My family and I went on a wonderfull cruise.... I missed my cruise last year because I guess I found it more exciting to spend my time in the hospital in Intensive care on life support....! (ha) I am happy to say that the cruise was a much better place to spend my time..it was great...
Well, the best part is, I am going back to work!! My Neuro Surgeon cleared me to go back to flying!! At this point, I have not had any x-rays to confirm, that my AVM has been "obliterated" as my Dr. says.....I don't know when that will happen, but I feel great and am ready...I am only worried about my short term memory.. it is still pretty bad...I write everything down, and loose everything... I can't wait to get back into the world!
Update: 26 February 2005
Hi everyone...I just wanted to update you on my great news..... I had my angio the otherday.... the same Dr. that did the first one when I was in a Comma did it...he is the one who first diagnosed my AVM.... Well... great news!! He Said that my AVM is not there anymore!! Yepee!!
I still need my Neurosurgeon to verify it... my appointment is next week with him!! I just now need him to find a cure for my short-term memory problem... Is there one??? I will update again after my appointment!!
Update: 21 March 2005
My long road continues... Boy what a road its been... I have to say... I would not trade it for anything.. I know that everyone thinks that I would be nuts.. but... I have grown such a great amount...
The ups and downs have been there.. of course! I cant say enough about that... I will never have my short term-memory back.. and I will survive... although it is very frustrating and hard for me...but I have to look at the bright side.. I AM ALIVE!! Who... I guess that's a good thing... considering I was not expected to make it... But I did... and now I have the everyday things I deal with... Life is not easy.. but as I know... being in Intensive care is not good either... so I will take his life with the short- term memory loss....( It could be much worse... loss of bodily function... vision loss. etc... I have NONE!!)
I happily say that I am back to the "Friendly Skies" and am flying again... which is a miracle in itself...as my Nero Surgeon said that I would never work again... and He WAS Wrong!! and he now says that he is happy he was wrong!! He is the great- est.... I love him.. he says that he is they only Dr. that is qualified to treat AVM's in this area and I believe him.. cuz he knew what he was doing with me...
My Gamma-knife was a complete success!! YEA! AVM....GONE!!! Never to come back... good riddance Mr AVM...(Or Mrs???) I am happy you are out of my life.....
I have met so many wonder- full people on this website... it has been such a blessing... because there is not much out there for AVM sufferers who have endured such bleeds...
Please e-mail me at any time!!
Discussion, comments, or questions: Lori Gibson
© Copyright 2004 Lori Gibson
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