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I am a 52 year old grandmother of 4 (expecting the 5th) in the fall. I am married to my best friend and biggest supporter. This is my second marriage and I have been married for 13 years. I consider myself to be very spiritual and belong to a small Covenant church. When I had my aneurysm in October of last year, I believe that prayer chains were started before the ambulance lights were off. I believe that prayer for me and for those who cared for me are what saved my life. At one point during my 50 day ordeal in the hospital the Drs. told my family I had a 2% chance of survival and I would never carry on a conversation if I did survive because of stroking. As you can see by my writing, none of that happened. I was told I would be in the hospital for 90 days, and have years of recovery if I did survive. I was home in 50 days, staying alone during the day after two weeks at home, and driving my pick up truck before 7 weeks. I also am proud that I can still beat my husband at Scrabble. I do tire late in the day yet. We have invited 150 people to a celebration party next month, and we thank God every day for a second chance at life. God Bless!
24 January 2002
On Friday, October 19th 2001 I took a half a day off for a week end get away with my wife, Marnie. While packing our belonging into our motorhome Marnie passed out and I found her laying on the driveway.
When the ambulance came we had her taken to the nearest hospital to us. Within an hour the hospital had diagnosed the problem. Because of the amount of blood released in the "subarachnoid hemorrhage" the situation was critical and HCMC in Minneapolis was the only hospital in the area they would transfer her to.
As the second ambulance reached HCMC Marnie quit breathing and was placed on a ventilator.
The doctor who first saw Marnie reviewed the data and the prognosis. We were told that there would be massive disabling strokes because of the forthcoming artery spasms which would starve the brain from blood and oxygen. If that didn't kill Marnie the seizures would kill or disable her. If that weren't enough the inner cranial pressure would be fatal and if that weren't enough the pneumonia she would surely get would most likely finish her off.
The first step was to slow down Marnie's body and reduce her blood pressure to very low values to avoid another bleed prior to attempting to repair the artery.
We had been told that the last choice to repair the hemorrhaged artery would be a method called "coiling." The only good repair would be a surgery called "clipping." Saturday morning they concluded that too significant damage to vital functions would be caused by such a surgery and coiling was the only hope. This was performed by Dr. Madison. He came out with great news. The procedure was totally successful.
By Sunday Marnie was off the ventilator, cracking jokes, smarting off and being feisty.
We had been told that the quantity of blood as a result of the hemorrhage was huge and the arteries would spasm between day 3 and 4. At the conclusion of day 4 we had not seen indications of spasms and we thought we were off the hook.
To help reduce the effect of the anticipated spasms the fluid added to Marnie was enormous. Further the blood pressure was raised to over 220 hoping that if spasms started, enough blood could squeak through.
Her body was being beaten and punished beyond anything we had been able to comprehend.
At day 5 spasms started. Marnie was drifting off and back awake frequently.
At day 6 spasms got worse and Marnie slid under and quit breathing. Again she was ventilated. They performed an angiogram and located the spasm. It worked.
On day 7 the spasms started again and got bad. They rushed Marnie off to have another angiogram and applied the medication with only minimal effect.
The neuro-surgical team had a meeting and Dr. Madison reviewed the data and recommended that we attempt an angioplasty. He spelled out 3 potentially fatal consequences and one possibility of either improvement or elimination of spasms. I was asked to sign the consent form with the understanding that if I didn't sign, Marnie would die for sure.
It worked!
They came to us on day 8 to tell us that the abuse imposed to save the brain had caused indications of failures of the heart, lungs, kidneys and intestines. To attempt to save the organs they needed to keep the blood pressure up to 220 and her heart was showing a blood test value equal to a heart attack. To save the heart they added an auxiliary heart pump called a balloon pump. This was installed and failed in its' result before the end of the next day. Prior to this failure, the heart received some relief and the kidneys started to function.
The abuse continued with the intent of continuing through day 21.
A process was used called a doppler ultrasound to check the velocity in the arteries of the brain to track spasms. The doppler demonstrated almost off the map velocities 3 times. Angiograms showed virtually normal velocities.
It took Marnie almost a week to wake up. With enough days behind us without spasms they started to reduce the abuse on the body by reducing the blood pressure some and cutting back on the fluid build up.
I was told that Marnie now had developed a form of strep pneumonia. They had identified the strep and had the correct antibiotics to deal with that.
The doctors now discussed a new problem with us. Marnie's feet had been starved by blood due to medications and there might be damage to her feet.
After 21 days in ICU Marnie was moved to a hospital room for one week, and then to rehab for three weeks. After two weeks in rehab the surgical team determined that the left foot would need partial amputation. The toes and area just behind the ball of the foot were removed. Marnie learned to walk just before this happened. She then learned to hop on one foot and then walk again.
We spent 50 days in the hospital. We brought Marnie home on December 9th. The Doctors said that Marnies young age (52) was on her side. We have been home for nearly seven weeks now and recuperation continues. Marnie has very little memory of her first four weeks in the hospital, which is a blessing. We celebrated the best Christmas of our lives. Last week we received news that our 5th grandchild is due near Marnies birthday in September. Life is good. We thank the Doctors and nurses, but we Thank The Lord for this total miracle. Since Marnie was given a 2% chance of survival at one point, we have a lot to celebrate. Marnie drove the car this past Sunday and on Monday was fitted for an orthodic insert to help her walk longer distances. God is good!
Update: 19 Apr 2004
It has been two and one half years since my bleed. I am happy to say that life has returned to a new kind of normal for me. Life couldn't be any better! I am so thankful for a second chance at life, and for all the good things that came from my ordeal: I tell people it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have restored some seemingly lost relationships, have a better perspective on life and a new appreciation for those I love. I wouldn't want to go through it again, but I thank God for showing me the way!
Update: 24 November 2004
Yesterday (November 22) I had my second cerebral angiogram since my "brain storm" three years ago.
The first time a year after my event was not a good experience. For two years I thought about it and the last three weeks I tortured myself with the thought of going through it again. My husband called the Dr.s office several times and asked many questions, and got every question answered and then some. The doctor's assistant promised I would be sedated to a level where I would not feel any pain this time. They kept their promise and if only I would have told them two years ago that I was in pain, they would have helped me.
One comment my doctor said was that "some people feel a warm sensation during the procedure, but rarely feel pain". So, I want to know am I just a big baby, or did others experience any negative experiences in this procedure?
Thanks, and God Bless.
Update: 9 March 2010
I had my 8th anniversary on Oct 19th and can't believe how fast the time has gone. I never did get my old energy back, but that is OK, I have learned to work around that: do my important stuff in the morning and give myself permission to slow down in the afternoon. In November I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I am a holiday person..... and I look forward to the season all year. I refused to let the cancer get in my way so we celebrated in every way that we normally do. My daughters helped with some cleaning etc.... but all else I managed fine. I just finished 33 treatments of radiation and the outlook is wonderful. I was diagnosed as early as is possible and am so thankful for mamography. God truly has blessed me once again in ways I cannot be thankful enough for.
© Copyright 2002 Marnie Peterson
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