The Day My Head Exploded
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September 23, 2017 was the day my head exploded. I was only 30 years old, and while I had learned how to live with occasional migraine headaches, I never dreamed someone my age could suffer a full-on stroke. I was out shopping with my good friend MacKensie when I got the worst migraine I’ve ever experienced in my life. Or so I thought. There was no warning and it went from zero to sixty in a few short moments. This was definitely different from other migraines. Alarmed, I asked MacKensie if we could get going. On the ride back home, my "migraine" was so horrible, it became apparent that I wouldn't be able to do anything more that day. Back at home, Mackensie gave me some migraine medicine and a barf bowl. I went to bed feeling like my head was exploding.
After Mackensie left, my roommate, Michele, poked in to ask me something and my response was a choking/gurgling sound, which she thought was strange. She pushed open my bedroom door to find me having a seizure. She quickly called 911 and an ambulance arrived in less than five minutes. The doctor later informed me that it was Michele’s quick thinking and action that saved my life.
I awoke two weeks later in the Critical Care Unit at Virginia Mason Hospital in downtown Seattle, surrounded by family and friends. I had a long scar and 52 staples across my scalp, and I was connected with tubes and wires to all kinds of machines beeping around me. My memory was practically nonexistent. I didn’t remember a thing about what happened or the days leading up to it. I learned that an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) had ruptured in the frontal region of my brain. The intense headache I experienced, known as a thunderclap, was due to the rupturing of the AVM. As a result of this rupture I also experienced a Hemorrhagic Stroke accompanied by several seizures. In the two weeks I spent in a coma I had undergone an embolization (on the vessels that ruptured), an emergency craniotomy, two blood transfusions, ventilator-associated pneumonia, strider, and numerous CT scans, angiograms, and other tests and procedures. After waking up I was so weak I couldn’t even stand up. But I met all my milestones quickly and before I knew I was out of the hospital and well on my way to recovery. The doctors said such AVM strokes often kill their victims, and I was very lucky. I was so grateful for the excellent care they gave me.
Recovery has been a long journey with many ups, downs, and challenges to overcome. Now that I'm approaching the one-year anniversary of “the day my head exploded” I realize my road to recovery is still a long one. In the beginning I made tremendous progress in a short amount of time. However, I’ve noticed my progress has slowed. Some days I even feel like I’ve regressed. I still experience memory loss, brain fog, confusion, and unbelievable fatigue. I just don’t feel right. My doctors tell me these symptoms are normal considering what my brain has been through; that full recovery, “if possible”, could take years. I found this to be incredibly frustrating because before all of this happened I had dreams and goals. Dreams and goals that have been on hold since the day my head exploded. Dreams and goals I would still very much like to achieve, but recovery holds me back. I was feeling stuck and wanted not only answers but a solution. I was explaining my frustrations to a family friend when she told me about Cognitive FX. Excited to have stumbled upon a possible answer I immediately starting researching Cognitive FX.
Cognitive FX is a neurorehabilitation clinic in Utah for people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. It states on their website, “Cognitive FX is where you go when no other place has been able to provide the answers or solutions to your cognitive disorders.” Cognitive FX was the exact solution I was looking for. I immediately called to set up a consult and the physician that I spoke with thought I would be an excellent candidate and would benefit from their treatment program. I feel like this is my chance to live a normal life and that it will allow me to begin pursuing my goals again. Treatment at Cognitive FX is very expensive and health insurance does not cover any of the cost. I'm back at work but still unable to work full-time due to my ongoing symptoms. My hope is to raise the $10,000 Cognitive FX charges for their week-long treatment, with the help of this GoFundMe campaign. It's been difficult to consider asking others for this financial help, but I will be extremely grateful for any donations offered to help me get my life back on track. Thank you!
After Mackensie left, my roommate, Michele, poked in to ask me something and my response was a choking/gurgling sound, which she thought was strange. She pushed open my bedroom door to find me having a seizure. She quickly called 911 and an ambulance arrived in less than five minutes. The doctor later informed me that it was Michele’s quick thinking and action that saved my life.
I awoke two weeks later in the Critical Care Unit at Virginia Mason Hospital in downtown Seattle, surrounded by family and friends. I had a long scar and 52 staples across my scalp, and I was connected with tubes and wires to all kinds of machines beeping around me. My memory was practically nonexistent. I didn’t remember a thing about what happened or the days leading up to it. I learned that an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) had ruptured in the frontal region of my brain. The intense headache I experienced, known as a thunderclap, was due to the rupturing of the AVM. As a result of this rupture I also experienced a Hemorrhagic Stroke accompanied by several seizures. In the two weeks I spent in a coma I had undergone an embolization (on the vessels that ruptured), an emergency craniotomy, two blood transfusions, ventilator-associated pneumonia, strider, and numerous CT scans, angiograms, and other tests and procedures. After waking up I was so weak I couldn’t even stand up. But I met all my milestones quickly and before I knew I was out of the hospital and well on my way to recovery. The doctors said such AVM strokes often kill their victims, and I was very lucky. I was so grateful for the excellent care they gave me.
Recovery has been a long journey with many ups, downs, and challenges to overcome. Now that I'm approaching the one-year anniversary of “the day my head exploded” I realize my road to recovery is still a long one. In the beginning I made tremendous progress in a short amount of time. However, I’ve noticed my progress has slowed. Some days I even feel like I’ve regressed. I still experience memory loss, brain fog, confusion, and unbelievable fatigue. I just don’t feel right. My doctors tell me these symptoms are normal considering what my brain has been through; that full recovery, “if possible”, could take years. I found this to be incredibly frustrating because before all of this happened I had dreams and goals. Dreams and goals that have been on hold since the day my head exploded. Dreams and goals I would still very much like to achieve, but recovery holds me back. I was feeling stuck and wanted not only answers but a solution. I was explaining my frustrations to a family friend when she told me about Cognitive FX. Excited to have stumbled upon a possible answer I immediately starting researching Cognitive FX.
Cognitive FX is a neurorehabilitation clinic in Utah for people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury. It states on their website, “Cognitive FX is where you go when no other place has been able to provide the answers or solutions to your cognitive disorders.” Cognitive FX was the exact solution I was looking for. I immediately called to set up a consult and the physician that I spoke with thought I would be an excellent candidate and would benefit from their treatment program. I feel like this is my chance to live a normal life and that it will allow me to begin pursuing my goals again. Treatment at Cognitive FX is very expensive and health insurance does not cover any of the cost. I'm back at work but still unable to work full-time due to my ongoing symptoms. My hope is to raise the $10,000 Cognitive FX charges for their week-long treatment, with the help of this GoFundMe campaign. It's been difficult to consider asking others for this financial help, but I will be extremely grateful for any donations offered to help me get my life back on track. Thank you!
Organizer
Annie Barron
Organizer
Bothell, WA
