The 5th Mile

My wife, Danielle, was just 25 years old (1993) when she suffered her first brain bleed and was diagnosed with an AVM (Arterial Venous Malformation). Fortunately, she lived most of her life fully physically intact, until 2019 when she suffered her 5th cerebral hemorrhage. This bleed paralyzed her on the right side and also caused aphasia ( A comprehension and communication (reading, speaking, or writing) disorder resulting from damage or injury to a specific area in the brain). She spent almost 2 months in the ICU and Rehab recovering from this bleed. She left rehab unable to walk or use her right hand and was severely limited in speech.

Before this bleed and after originally being diagnosed, Danielle (Dani), was limited to what kind of exercise she was safely allowed to do daily. Yoga and walking were her two favorite things to do to stay mentally and physically fit. With our neighbor, Sandi, the two women would leave our neighborhood and walk 5 miles to a local park and back. This typically occured on a Saturday morning and continued for several years. After this devastating bleed in 2019, Danielle was faced with her biggest challenge to date, how to walk and talk again despite the Drs telling her that regaining the use of her right arm and leg would likely never happen. Fueled by her intense desire to survive and recover, Danielle was determined to prove them all wrong. Fast forward 3 long years later, countless hours of physical therapy, nightly stretching of her right leg, falling and breaking her arm, and another bleed in 2021, Danielle learned to walk again with a cane. She still needed someone next to her to make sure she didn't lose her balance, but she walked again under her power. Daily, she would walk in her efforts to try and become stronger and independent (she would often say to me "I am strong and independent").

Her ultimate goal was to be able to walk 5 miles around the park with only someone next to her and no additional help. Her progress in 2021-2022 was remarkable, early in 2021, she was able to walk to the end of our driveway and back. Later in 2021 she would start to walk our cul de sac and neighborhood, always wanting to go a little farther each week. Her persistence and drive were

something to be admired and on days when I was struggling, I would recall her strength to refuel my tanks (and I still do). Early in 2022 and bored of our neighborhood, she started to walk Bush Park near our house and was soon walking all the way around (1 mile) without much help. By the spring of 2022, she was walking 2 miles. By the summer of 2022, she was up to 4 miles. Unfortunately, in September 2022, Danielle suffered what was her 7th brain hemorrhage and one she would not survive. If she had, I know she would have reached her goal and beyond.

For her birthday in May, my kids and I, plan to walk that 5th mile with her. We will also take this opportunity to raise funds so that we can donate them to local charities that focus on AVM victims and those with traumatic brain injuries.