Hemiplegic Migraine disability fund
Donation protected
As many of you are well aware I have a bad shoulder it needs surgery I haven't gotten that surgery yet and that is what is slowing down my writing right?
Well...
That's not the entire story.
Six years ago, exactly seven days after my husband and I got married Yes, I know didn't I only get married in August? Legally? Yes it's a long story. Anyway Marc was at work and I was hanging out with my best friend on our couch watching a movie. It was so long ago I can't recall which one when I looked up at her and said "Heather I can't feel my left leg..."
That was the beginning of a panic filled night. Being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance lights and sirens, my grandfather somehow driving fast enough to get to Portland and back to the hospital with my husband before they even had cut my clothes off... The words
"You are having a stroke."
*closes eyes*
"You are having a stroke if you do not take this drug it will be permanent. There is a 10% chance this drug will kill you."
I was only 22, married only a week I had so much I wanted to do get my degree in Early childhood education, have children, watch them grow, be a grandmother.
Dying at 22 was not in my plans so I screamed no I screamed it as loud as I could even as they were mixing the drug they seemed to be ignoring me so my husband took my right hand and squeezed "Didn't you hear her she said no!"
I knew the risks I knew I might be permanently paralyzed but I also knew life continues after paralysis but not after death. So that was that I was transferred to the stroke ward while they ran every test they could. Releasing me after a week with the diagnosis of TIA... That week was awful I had to wear a diaper for much of it since I could get to a bathroom...
So I was sent home in a wheelchair and a referral for a home care nurse. My husband got me as comfortable as possible even moving our bed into the living room when after another three weeks something miraculous happened.
I regained feeling on my left side. After a few more days I was able to go to the beach with friends! Even did some climbing of the rock walls. We were all certain that it was nothing short of a miracle. One I was determined not to squander. I got into better shape and even did Warrior dash!
Then in January or early February I had a horrible migraine it lasted for three days and after being diagnosed with a TIA I was urged to head back to the ER just in case. By the time the taxi arrived I was losing feeling in my left arm. I asked the doctor if I was having another stroke. He said yes and I began to sob.
Once more I was transferred up to the stroke ward and had many more tests and scans run. This time though something wonderful happened an electrical storm knocked out the computers of the stroke ward so my doctor decided to look up my symptoms in her old medical school text book and that's when she found it.
Hemiplegic Migraine
It fit completely the reason my scans never picked anything up not to mention my recovery. I had a diagnosis! And it wasn't a stroke this wasn't going to kill me!
No my migraine disorder wasn't going to kill me bt it was going to make life hard for me. It's been 6 years since my first attack and they are getting worse. Even when i'm not paralyzed I always have weakness and often need to walk with a cane.
I'm going to be applying for disability it has come to the point where I have no choice. I can't work or go to school with how bad things are getting. Getting on disability is going to take time and well right now my family is having serious money problems.
So I'm hoping to get enough to help at least a little until my disability is hopefully approved.
Well...
That's not the entire story.
Six years ago, exactly seven days after my husband and I got married Yes, I know didn't I only get married in August? Legally? Yes it's a long story. Anyway Marc was at work and I was hanging out with my best friend on our couch watching a movie. It was so long ago I can't recall which one when I looked up at her and said "Heather I can't feel my left leg..."
That was the beginning of a panic filled night. Being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance lights and sirens, my grandfather somehow driving fast enough to get to Portland and back to the hospital with my husband before they even had cut my clothes off... The words
"You are having a stroke."
*closes eyes*
"You are having a stroke if you do not take this drug it will be permanent. There is a 10% chance this drug will kill you."
I was only 22, married only a week I had so much I wanted to do get my degree in Early childhood education, have children, watch them grow, be a grandmother.
Dying at 22 was not in my plans so I screamed no I screamed it as loud as I could even as they were mixing the drug they seemed to be ignoring me so my husband took my right hand and squeezed "Didn't you hear her she said no!"
I knew the risks I knew I might be permanently paralyzed but I also knew life continues after paralysis but not after death. So that was that I was transferred to the stroke ward while they ran every test they could. Releasing me after a week with the diagnosis of TIA... That week was awful I had to wear a diaper for much of it since I could get to a bathroom...
So I was sent home in a wheelchair and a referral for a home care nurse. My husband got me as comfortable as possible even moving our bed into the living room when after another three weeks something miraculous happened.
I regained feeling on my left side. After a few more days I was able to go to the beach with friends! Even did some climbing of the rock walls. We were all certain that it was nothing short of a miracle. One I was determined not to squander. I got into better shape and even did Warrior dash!
Then in January or early February I had a horrible migraine it lasted for three days and after being diagnosed with a TIA I was urged to head back to the ER just in case. By the time the taxi arrived I was losing feeling in my left arm. I asked the doctor if I was having another stroke. He said yes and I began to sob.
Once more I was transferred up to the stroke ward and had many more tests and scans run. This time though something wonderful happened an electrical storm knocked out the computers of the stroke ward so my doctor decided to look up my symptoms in her old medical school text book and that's when she found it.
Hemiplegic Migraine
It fit completely the reason my scans never picked anything up not to mention my recovery. I had a diagnosis! And it wasn't a stroke this wasn't going to kill me!
No my migraine disorder wasn't going to kill me bt it was going to make life hard for me. It's been 6 years since my first attack and they are getting worse. Even when i'm not paralyzed I always have weakness and often need to walk with a cane.
I'm going to be applying for disability it has come to the point where I have no choice. I can't work or go to school with how bad things are getting. Getting on disability is going to take time and well right now my family is having serious money problems.
So I'm hoping to get enough to help at least a little until my disability is hopefully approved.
Organizer
Madison Harkness
Organizer
Vancouver, WA
