The entire time I was pregnant I felt strange, I didn't have the energy I had with the other three. But everyone kept telling me oh it's normal and I went on about my way. I gained only a pound but my face was so distorted looking to me, and of course then I would cry. And sleep, oh heavens I slept for hours a day, would get up, put the my other kids on the school bus and pass out til it was time to get them . 1
The doctors found only one thing wrong with me. Protein in my urine, lots of it, so this made my Doc send me to get monitored twice a week and they listened to her heart, and everything was great. 2
Javier my husband had to go to the field for a week and told my belly to wait til he got home , and like a good baby she did just that. The day of his return I started having contractions, he called and I told him, hmm getting stronger and he said he would be home soon. So I ran around cleaning, why rest, there was stuff to be done. He called again and "I said get here now"! When he got home we showered (I had to shave my legs, something only other women would understand ) and dropped the kids off at a friends house, off to Madigan Army Medical Center we went. 3
They put me on monitors of course, and we sat there cutting up, Javier pretending to be my OB-GYN, wanting to do a "exam" being silly, when they came rushing in all of a sudden. It seemed that her heart rate had gone down during one of the contractions and then did it again. They thought she was crushing the cord somehow. Next thing I knew I was being wheeled off for a emergency C-section. 4
Nevaeh Adriana V was born perfectly fine and healthy, beautiful of course, the only thing that had gone wrong during all of it was my blood pressure got a bit high . I would remember that later and cry. 5
We were sent home and by that time my Mother Donna had flown up from Tn to help, all my friends and neighbors were there, but I just wanted to sleep. I was full blown tired. I had to go in and get my staples out on a Tuesday I can't recall the date off hand but when they put my arm in the blood pressure cuff, the machine started beeping and the nurse got a funny look on her face. She took it again, and again. And then told me something" You have to be readmitted to Labor and Delivery, your blood pressure is so high you are about to have a stroke. I burst into tears, they put me in a wheelchair and off I went. 6
They did a IV and began to give me Magnesium Sulphate, and some other medications. The Magnesium makes you cranky, and it smells awful, it just comes straight out of your pores, your urine you name it. So I was bawling and freaking out, my children were at home with my Mother, my Newborn as well. And my poor husband he was terrified. 7
They let me go. Big mistake we found out later you are supposed to be treated with Magnesium for at least 48 -72 hours, but they released me as soon as my pressure was down. I spent one day in the hospital, not that I minded at the time. I came home to all my neighborhood camping out in my backyard, overjoyed and concerned. 8
Again I just wanted to go to bed. I felt so worn out. 9
That night as I was sleeping there was a loud popping noise and I saw blinding white light, I screamed, went into deeper sleep, when I woke up the next morning? 10
The sunlight hurt my eyes so bad I just kept crying. Javier grabbed up our hospital stuff and said "You're going back" I was throwing a fit basically. But my head hurt so bad, I gave in. 11
They put me right back in and started giving me Morphine for the headache which I actually described as " The worst headache of my life" funny. For hours I lay there tossing and turning and crying telling them that I was dying. I had them bring me ice to put on my head cause it felt like it was on fire. It was. 12
My Savior came in the form of a feisty little Mexican, Doctor Hernandez, she threw open the door and said " Has anyone taken this woman to have a Cat scan?" My Doctor looked started and said no, she shot him a evil glare and said "take her now, I am ordering it". Off I went. 13
We get there and there was three techs in the room, they put me gently in the machine, and I should say by this time all the morphine they had given me finally kicked in. I was high as hell, and my eyesight was shot, everything was blurry. They said "if you get scared honey just talk to us" but I was more focused on how loud the machine was. 14
When I was finished they sat me up in the wheelchair, and I remember looking at Javier and saying" They found something" he gave me a weird look and said "You think so?" I pointed to the glass. There was suddenly a room full of people, I told him when we went in there was only 3 people and now it was jam packed. They finished their pow wow and came out towards me, grabbing my chair and began to wheel me down the hall. 15
I reached out with tears in my eyes and told them to stop, we weren't going anywhere till they told me what was going on. They said "oh no let's get you to a room and set you up on your IV again". I shot them my "I Don't think so" look. 16
Then one of them knelt down in front of me. Later I would find out her name was Dr Scully. Ironic too.. Mrs. Villanueva you had a Subarachnoid Brain Hemorrhage, the front part of your lobe is bleeding and we don't know how deep or how wide, right now we need to get you set up for some tests". She had the saddest eyes when she was telling me this. I just remember looking at Javier and telling him "I told you so". While I was asleep my blood pressure had gotten so high it literally burst the blood vessels in the front part of my brain. They wanted to do a MRI and something called a Angiogram. 17
I looked at Javier and told him " You have to go tell Momma face to face, this could cause a heart attack", he agreed to do so and left. 18
No sooner than he did I recall sitting on the table talking to Doctor Hernandez and I told her "you know every time my husband has left me alone in a hospital something bad has happened." No sooner than the words left my mouth I promptly went into a seizure that lasted roughly two minutes, and went into another one. Needless to say they all freaked out and rushed me to the ER it seems Labor and Delivery doesn't have the equipment needed for something like this. Not long after I had the seizure I went into cardiac arrest. 19
They were paging Javier, and called my home to tell him you need to come back ASAP, when he arrived he had to search all over for me, when he found me I was surrounded by Doctors and Nurses. He asked someone what is going on? They told him oh we are just doing some tests, he could tell she was lying by the amount of Doctors there. A priest walked over to him and he said later his heart just fell. He thought I was dead, how right he was. 20
The Priest asked if I would like to see him when I awoke, Javier knew if I saw him I would freak and told him no later perhaps but if she sees you she will think something worse is wrong. 21
22
I have no memory of any of the seizures. I woke up very very sore, and very tired. They told me what happened and I passed out again only to awaken later and ask the same questions. The Doctors told me that I needed the tests immediately. 23
As they wheeled me in for the Angiogram I looked at Javier thinking this is it, I am gonna die. They tell you the things that can go wrong, and the chances of them happening, well I thought look at what already has happened. 24
God was on my side that day, it seems that the blood only went so deep which mean that in time I should recover somewhat. 25
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I decided to tell this story on the basis of it has made me who I am. 27
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Not a day goes by that I don't Thank God for the many gifts in my life. It is too precious and too short to dwell on simple things. 29
But those same simple things are part of what helped me heal. 30
31
I suffer short term memory, numbness in my hands, I tend to walk to the left which they say is normal, and little things make me very dizzy. 32
Sights, sounds and taste took a while to get used to I can hear noises others don't, and crowds drive me nuts now. 33
And of course killer headaches, they said that the blood is basically like scarring it will be there, a permanent part of my brain. 34
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It's been three years, and I am finally drug free of my own free will. I got tired of the drugs, I liked them way too much. 36
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This is who I am... a bit shaken but nonetheless still here and loving life. 38
Author notes
50% of those who have a hemorrhage die, and all suffer long term side effects.
AP believe it or not has been my own true form of therapy in that when I first joined I couldn't type and words often were flipped around in my vision and speech.
Every day I write is proof of how far the human mind can go.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 21 of 21
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I was browsing around your page and decided to read this story. Its a true tale of strength and bravery. You are a fighter, and your will is strong. I'm glad you're not part of that 50%, I dont think you'd do well as a statistic
xoxo, love you! Criss -
Very powerful, wow, you are a living angel, thanks for sharing this with me, I'm so glad we crossed paths, much love to you and yours, Timothy xo
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It was myleft side too...96% sensory perception lost when i was ill but i would say 99% back now!
I recently wrote abotu mine for a contest for another writer on here who was suffering...its called 'The Hope I Had' if you fancy reading it, and the contest that prompted me to write it too.
Thanks anyways, and you take care too. -
Omg same thing here it is mainly my left hand that still gives me problems ( I was always clumsy though haha) But I am forever dropping things, glasses and so on.. And my fingers go numb.. Kudos to you my friend for being strong as well, I have yet to pick up a few things I quit but one day perhaps..
Take Care and Thank you for reading and sharing your story .. -
Hey Cat. Its a brave thing to write about these experiences...i know and understand having been down a ...similar path, though mine werent seizures but a brain tumour. Still had the pleasure of MRI's (in fact i STILL keep having that partivular pleasure but hey ho!) and angiograms and invasive brain surgery but HEY you have hit the nail on the head...so to speak!!
WE ARE HERE...now, and for as long as Gods grace and our hearts, minds, spirits, souls and the fickle winds of fate decides we should be anyhow.
I TOTALLY understand about how therapeutic this must have been on Allpoetry, and such a wonderful way to heal yourself to (after eventually gaining feeling back in my left hand my Dad FINALLY convinced me to pick my guitar up again..i swear he was gonna cry when he heard me play!).
Heres to you and I and all the rest of the people who have read this and understand how blessed we all really are.
Lets never let go.
All the very best to you and yours
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Cat..my God.. I am sitting here crying, cause this has scared me a lot. I know you didn't intend for it to scare anyone. But you also know what's been going on with me, and how they can't seem to figure out what is wrong. I am glad to know you made thru this,a nd that you are the person you are today. It gives me hope, that no matter what, I will get thru too. Thank You Cat.. Athena
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holy crap cat that is scary stuff, glad you made it through or else the evil wenches would not have been born and i would have missed out on all those naughty writes
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B+
Sounds like a horrible experience. I am glad you made it through okay. Your children have one tough mommy. God Bless You your whole life through. And great story, written with such depth and perception. Keep on writing ~Crystal Marie -
This is an amazing story Cat. God was on your side that day for a reason, He gave you a second chance, because you kids need you and you havent finished what you've come to to.
I am glad that you've shared this, it is amazing the things we learn about others when we take the time. I am glad that you werent taken that day, you've been a true special addition to my life. You are a strong woman, though, I've never doubted that.
with love,
Criss
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Ok, maybe it's not like that but yeah. You know what I meant.
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Oh snap dude. On a lighter note, that comment deadlysniper made is kinda funny. ADHD as I am, my attention span held long enough to know that this didn't just happen.
I had an equally freaky occurance like that happen when I was 12. Went from one of my chronic (severe) migraines to hallucinating to biting my mother, a paramedic, and a doctor (or was it a nurse...have no clue, I must of thought it was one of the monsters). I wake up strapped to a bed in ICU, IV's monitors, catheder (thing I hated the most), everything short of oxygen/breathing tube basically. They did EEG's, blood tests like at least 2-3 times a day over the course of 4 days, and a spinal tap. I'm 23 now, and to this day we have no clue what in the world happened other than me going nuts or why it happened. -
You have such an inner strength that I admire. Your willingness to share all that you have been through is wonderful, and a help and inspiration to others. The things you write about yourself constantly surprise me. Not the content - just you. And by that I mean how you have come through all that you have and you are so positive and full of life.
Julia -
My Dear Cat, a walking miracle you truly are. Not only did you defy the odds, you also lived to put so much love into the lives and hearts of so many here on AP. I am one who feels the love from you.
Your wonderful husband is truly the fortunate one, and he is certainly a wonder himself to stand by your side so dilligently through it all.
I also have to say that Madigan has some wonderful doctors. When my Joe had his last heart attack, that's where we took him. The cardiologists there are some of the best, and I give them praise every chance I get.
Thank you for sharing this with so many of us. Hugs, Patricia
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Very Sad But Amazing
WOWWWWWWWW you gave me hope for my best friend he is in a coma and has been in one for 5 weeks now..... I hope he will come out of this thank you so much for sharing this with me You gave me so much hope in this write of yours and I am glad you came through this with the good Lords help thank you again -
Oh how I can remember the waiting game with this...it was so hard to just wait... I am so glad that you are here safe and sound with your family and friends by your side.
You are Aunt Deena's girl,right? Only ALWAYS.
Much love,
Aunt Deena
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I have no memory of any of the seizures. I woke up very very sore, and very tired.
Now this sounds very familiar. Waking up in the hospital and being sore, tired, and stiff for many days afterwards.
Thank you for sharing this.
John -
I do not know what to say right now. Lots of emotions came at me and came from me. This story at first reminded me of a friend who had brain damage in a drunk driving crash. She went through hell to get her life back. She lost all of her memory from the point of impact backward. She didn't know her fiance or parents, was Valedictorian in school and lost scholarships (sp) to college. On & on. She had a grapefruit sized bruise on her brain, walks crooked sometimes, can't see most colors, has headaches, etc. But today she is happy, has a husband and the child they said she could never have (the steering wheel hit her ovaries). She has new parents, in a way, as her past is still gone...but all in all, I learned sometghing from her. No matter how hard life gets, she let's her feet hit the floor and she thanks God for another day of life. As do I...when I remember. There is none like God...
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wow all i can say sis is that you are far more inspirational then i even imagined! to have to go through that and still have the zest for life you seem to have is wonderful, They dont listen these drs and nurses seem to think they know more! when i had my son i kept on saying he doesnt want to be here inside me! i was told to stop being neurotic and enjoy the pregnancy which was hell on earth! needless to say he had a genetic disorder which fought my body for the whole 26 weeks he was inside me! I had a blood pressure headache and the start of the fit! and the magnesium sulphate infusion!He didnt survive but i did and i am so glad that i can live every single day of my life, just a shame he isnt here to have in my arms! thankyou for sharing and well being so bright and positive! excellant write xxxxxxx Cheryl
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Gee hon did you even read the write?
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OMG
im so so so sorry to hear about htis i hope u get to feel better -
WOW
My grandma died a few months ago from a brain tumor (the worst kind), i can only imagen how much pain she when through and how much pain you and thousands of others go through. this is a beautiful story, it reminds me of the wonderful fragile egg shell that is are life.
~mirage~
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