Hello everyone! On 5/31 I found out I had a vertebral artery dissection (VAD). The doctor explained that an artery in my neck just below my head was almost completely blocked, but that blood had tried to get through anyway, which caused a weakness in the wall of the artery. Luckily the whole time my vitals were good, except my blood pressure which was high due to the off-the-charts pain I was in. They transferred me to Royal Oak Beaumont & I had a stent placed to support the artery the next morning.

I really expected I would be able to bounce back right afterwards but the recovery & healing process has been harder than I imagined. Pain is the number one thing I’ve had to deal with - I liken it to getting hit in the back of the head by a baseball bat (not that I would know, really.)

To add to all of this, I got pneumonia on top of the VAD which was pretty awful. After another hospital stay and IV antibiotics I feel much better.

I am on a regimen of extra strength tylenol, muscle relaxers, and blood thinners. The neurologist said that my recovery would likely be 6-8 weeks. Unfortunately a few weeks ago I found out I had a second artery issue on the right side, this time a Petrous Carotid Aneurysm (PCA) and have to have another stent placed which will require another recovery period. I don’t know how long that recovery period will be.

Healing will not be linear. I have some good days & some bad days. Right now, I’m unable to work, unable to even take care of my garden. I was advised that I needed to rest or I will not recover. I have some help from my amazing sister Beth, and from some of my neighbors.

Prior to this happening I was receiving unemployment and had a promising pre-interview for a job with great benefits, but that’s all out the window for now. So at this moment I’m hoping to raise some money to pay my living expenses while I recover. Im hoping by August or September I should be back to my normal self, able to work, better able to care for myself.

My medicaid coverage has also been cut off mysteriously as of 6/30. I have reapplied, but in the meantime I’m paying out of pocket for prescription meds to treat the VAD. I’m also hoping to raise money for these prescriptions.

Thank you, and I love you all.