Support my brain aneurysm recovery
Donation protected
My name is Kamila, and I survived a ruptured brain aneurysm just 5 months ago.
Ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal in about 40% of cases. Of those who survive, about 66% suffer some permanent neurological deficit. Approximately 15% of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage die before reaching the hospital. I am incredibly lucky and incredibly thankful to be alive, however, my journey has not been easy.
You can read more details about my story here: https://kamharrisphoto.wordpress.com/2016/09/02/survived-brain-aneurysm-subarachnoid-hemmorhage-survivor-mystory/
On June 2, 2016, after a lingering headache, I suddenly experienced the worst pain I've ever felt followed by losing my ability to speak and move, intense shooting pain down my neck and back, vomiting and seizures. I was rushed to the ER where it was discovered that I had a brain aneurysm rupture - a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
I spent 3 weeks in the hospital, where I underwent several brain surgeries including a shunt placement - which is a medical device that helps my brain pump out excess spinal fluid, and it's a device that will stay in my head for the rest of my life. I will also need regular MRI/MRA's of my spine and head, as well as cerebral angiograms, for the rest of my life.
After I was finally home from the hospital, I spent the next two months recovering, dealing with extreme fatigue, headaches, short term memory loss and constant ringing in my ears.
This September, just three months after my aneurysm, I was thrilled to be feeling well enough to be able to return to my job as a wedding photographer and enjoyed 8 weeks of a busy wedding season. I felt as though I was 100% recovered and have been feeling overall pretty great the past two months, and I thought my aneurysm troubles were behind me.
Then it was time to find out for sure. On November 3rd, after a routine cerebral angiogram (detailed test of the veins of the spine and brain), I found out that my aneurysm is not healing as well as hoped - it is receiving blood flow and it should not be receiving any - if it's getting blood flow it can rupture again, and another brain surgery is needed to ensure that it will not rupture. The surgery will be in two weeks, and it is not yet certain how serious the surgery will be, how long I will again spend in the hospital, and how long recovery will take. Although it should be a lot quicker and smoother than my previous emergency surgery, I might still be out of commission again for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
As a full-time wedding photographer, I am self-employed and do not receive unemployment or disability benefits. I cannot call out sick, I cannot reschedule a wedding shoot.
While I have been recovering, I have been unable to devote as much time as usual to marketing, advertising, networking, meeting with potential clients - and as a result my income for 2017 has been jeopardized, as people usually book their photographer 6-12 months in advance. And now, I'm afraid that having to have surgery in yet another busy "engagement/booking season" I will miss out on meeting with potential clients again and miss out on booking new jobs even more.
The best way to help honestly would be to book me for your 2017 wedding! Send your friends who are looking for a wedding photographer to Kamila Harris Photography (www.kamilaharris.com)! This will be the last surgery I'll need to secure my aneurysm and my health will be great next spring, summer and fall.
Also, any donation, no matter how small, will help me with my recovery and peace of mind as I work to rebuild my business after this tough year. I will be eternally grateful for any contribution. Your donation will help me recoup some of my business losses, and will replenish my advertising and marketing funds for the year so I can get back to booking weddings regularly and will have far less anxiety about 2017. It will help me get my life back.
Being greeted by my dog Mastodon when I returnd home after 3 weeks in the hospital -
Getting used to having NO HAIR for the first time in my life was definitely a challenge...
...I made the best of it by getting fun colors put in my hair
Here I am at one of the weddings I photographed in October
And here is a photo from 2015 before I knew I had an aneurysm
Ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal in about 40% of cases. Of those who survive, about 66% suffer some permanent neurological deficit. Approximately 15% of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage die before reaching the hospital. I am incredibly lucky and incredibly thankful to be alive, however, my journey has not been easy.
You can read more details about my story here: https://kamharrisphoto.wordpress.com/2016/09/02/survived-brain-aneurysm-subarachnoid-hemmorhage-survivor-mystory/
On June 2, 2016, after a lingering headache, I suddenly experienced the worst pain I've ever felt followed by losing my ability to speak and move, intense shooting pain down my neck and back, vomiting and seizures. I was rushed to the ER where it was discovered that I had a brain aneurysm rupture - a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
I spent 3 weeks in the hospital, where I underwent several brain surgeries including a shunt placement - which is a medical device that helps my brain pump out excess spinal fluid, and it's a device that will stay in my head for the rest of my life. I will also need regular MRI/MRA's of my spine and head, as well as cerebral angiograms, for the rest of my life.
After I was finally home from the hospital, I spent the next two months recovering, dealing with extreme fatigue, headaches, short term memory loss and constant ringing in my ears.
This September, just three months after my aneurysm, I was thrilled to be feeling well enough to be able to return to my job as a wedding photographer and enjoyed 8 weeks of a busy wedding season. I felt as though I was 100% recovered and have been feeling overall pretty great the past two months, and I thought my aneurysm troubles were behind me.
Then it was time to find out for sure. On November 3rd, after a routine cerebral angiogram (detailed test of the veins of the spine and brain), I found out that my aneurysm is not healing as well as hoped - it is receiving blood flow and it should not be receiving any - if it's getting blood flow it can rupture again, and another brain surgery is needed to ensure that it will not rupture. The surgery will be in two weeks, and it is not yet certain how serious the surgery will be, how long I will again spend in the hospital, and how long recovery will take. Although it should be a lot quicker and smoother than my previous emergency surgery, I might still be out of commission again for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
As a full-time wedding photographer, I am self-employed and do not receive unemployment or disability benefits. I cannot call out sick, I cannot reschedule a wedding shoot.
While I have been recovering, I have been unable to devote as much time as usual to marketing, advertising, networking, meeting with potential clients - and as a result my income for 2017 has been jeopardized, as people usually book their photographer 6-12 months in advance. And now, I'm afraid that having to have surgery in yet another busy "engagement/booking season" I will miss out on meeting with potential clients again and miss out on booking new jobs even more.
The best way to help honestly would be to book me for your 2017 wedding! Send your friends who are looking for a wedding photographer to Kamila Harris Photography (www.kamilaharris.com)! This will be the last surgery I'll need to secure my aneurysm and my health will be great next spring, summer and fall.
Also, any donation, no matter how small, will help me with my recovery and peace of mind as I work to rebuild my business after this tough year. I will be eternally grateful for any contribution. Your donation will help me recoup some of my business losses, and will replenish my advertising and marketing funds for the year so I can get back to booking weddings regularly and will have far less anxiety about 2017. It will help me get my life back.
Being greeted by my dog Mastodon when I returnd home after 3 weeks in the hospital -
Getting used to having NO HAIR for the first time in my life was definitely a challenge...
...I made the best of it by getting fun colors put in my hair
Here I am at one of the weddings I photographed in October
And here is a photo from 2015 before I knew I had an aneurysm
Organizer
Kamila Harris Toole
Organizer
Sunnyside, NY
