I am a survivor a warrior of Sickle Cell disease. I am a single mom. I am an ambitious woman. I am a fighter. I am strong, I am weak. I am at peace. I am a coma survivor. I am blessed. I am Grateful. I live by my rules. I live by my standards. I do not fit in. I am an open book. I laugh. I cry. I smile. I enjoy life and living. I stand out in my thoughts and actions. I AM ALIVE AFTER A COMA!!! This is my journey of random thoughts, feelings, opinions, and everyday life. I am guilty of never being a full force Sickle Cell advocate all my life but one of the hardest things about falling apart on the inside is having to do it in silence because God has chosen you to do a job and has placed so many people in your life who depend on you to be strong and stay strong.
September 9,2014 I was in a medically induced sedated coma… just the beginning. I will try my best to related my current situation now.. but first I digress… I don’t remember much or even 2-3 days prior to being in the coma. My last knowledge is that I was feeling well alive and on my way to work. Based on my other post I have stated that I have Sickle Cell Disease (Sickle cell anemia, or sickle cell disease (SCD), is a genetic disease of the red blood cells (RBCs). Normally RBCs are shaped like discs, which gives them the flexibility to travel through even the smallest blood vessels. However, with this disease, the RBCs have an abnormal crescent (“sickle”) shape.)
UpUpdate: 2018- Last year I finally found out what I finally found out why I had brain hemorrhaging, my family knew but no one told me or explained to me all my son said to me was that the damage is done nothing I can do about it. I recently moved to Texas, where I saw yet another (making it about 4 Neurologist in 2 states tested me the right way, Before he sent me for testing but all I could tell him I cannot remember things, places or people. Through the questioning he asked what side of my brain was damaged I started crying because I simply didn’t know. I got on the phone with my mom as pressed her hard for answers, “what exactly did the doctors say while I was in the coma the reason for the brain bleeding?” it was then she said they told her “I had several mini strokes, to many to operate and it was all over my brain”. Well geezzee! thanks mom. Anyway the doctor already order brain scans, EEG and Neurophycology testing. Results: I have cognitive damage. This explains my lack of attention, comprehension, memory loss and retention. So where to I go from here doc? Never back to you old job or life but to finding something else you love and work on that.
The medical staff are still baffled at my recovery, and they were not sure how to treat me or which one was causing the major problems and damage… I had total body organ failure, I had kidney problems, hemorrhaging in my brain causing permanent brain damage. I had to learn how to walk, read, write, and write. It took me a year and a half to be able to walk without assistance. I lost my job, my house, all my saving, my insurance and part of myself. Over the next few post I will talk about many things, they might not be in order, they might be random feelings, my spirituality, thoughts, daily struggles, occasional observations, my courage, my strengths dealing with each and everyone of these symptoms… but as usual came follow me as I continue to LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH, LEARN!!
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
– Oscar Wilde
Phoenix: Live Love Laugh 