9 May 2004
This is my sister's story unfortunately she did not servive the rupture of her aneurysm. Many unanswered question linger in the silent thoughts of each family member. Some talk about our lose others don't. I can't help but to think and talk about her, Taniqua was much more than a sister more like a motherly figure, provider and a friend. (Just to name a few) Taniqua was only 27 years of age at the time of death. She was unmarried without children it was just Taniqua, our cats (Miko and Mesha) and I. We were roommates we share almost everything. We were extremely close for it to be a 6 year age difference between us.
On April 12th of 2002 shortly after her 27th birthday these headaches that she was having, became unbearable to the point where she felt she needed to visit the ER. There she had a CT and the doctors saw nothing only to released her and with a prescription.
A month went pass with no relief where she then visited the ER with the same outcome on the 18th of May. Then on Monday, May 27th she came bursting into my bedroom falling to the floor, complaining of pressure in the back of her head that cases her toes to tingle. She felt as if she needed to vomit and also a bit light headed. I had to force her to the ER when she then vomited on the floor while we waited for the doctor. As in April and earlier that month she was again released and sent home with a different prescription. All they did for her was hook her to an IV to keep her from vomiting.
Our aunt who is an RN told her she needed to see a neurologist, which she did and her appointment was scheduled for the 12th of June. The week to come was long and painful. It was obvious that something was wrong. She just was not herself, she missed 4 ½ days of work that week.
On Sunday June 2nd Taniqua was complaining of numbness on her right side and spend the better half of the day in bed. I remember her waking up in the middle of the night walking back and forth to the kitchen. I wondered why she was up and then went back to bed. Early Monday June 3rd Taniqua was preparing for work I could hear her movements and then I heard the shutting of the door behind her. I never thought this would be my last chance to tell I love her and that I appreciated all that she sacrificed for me.
Taniqua never made it to work that day, about 25 minutes after she left I got a called that she has some type of seizer at red light on her was to work. Our Uncle Demetrius, a friend and I rushed to Delnor Community Hospital. Only to learn that upon arrival she was not responding at all and shortly after arrival she stopped breathing on her own. Doctor ran test while other family member arrived and we together learned that there was blood on the brain (she had a rupture aneurysm). We all were in shock and Praying "Dear Lord please spare our angel". When the doctor returned he told us that Taniqua was brain dead.
Taniqua's usable organs were donated to those in need of. We though if we couldn't have Taniqua we could at least allow someone else to hold on to a loved one. In a strange kind of way I feel that she's still living some where without pain and sorrow. I can't help but to think that there was too little done too late.
Does anyone know what I've lost and how much she meant to my family and I? It's an everyday struggle expecting her absents and I've learned that you never know what some one means to you until you don't have them around any longer. If I knew then what I know now I would have demanded clarification and I wouldn't have settled for the quick fix. This may have saved Taniqua's life.