The end of all.

(The scar comes in next chapter.. )

When I hit 8 years old, I had an episode I suppose you could call it. No, more like detrimental. I was walking through my hallway, and then all of a sudden I fell to the ground. I had no motor function capabilities, I had to brace myself against the hallway and shuffle my way out. I had to get help! My mom, who was in the living room, looked up at me. But low and behold, I couldn't speak! I tried so hard to, but it just wouldn't work. It was almost paralyzing. So what does a child do? Pantomime with their hands. So, I started waving my hands around frantically. My mom thought I was just playing a joke, until I dropped to my knees. She then knew something was seriously wrong with me. So she got one of my books off the shelf and told me to try and read it, of course, I couldn't. It was a Grade Kindergarten book.. It was simple as pie. I just couldn't speak. Off to the hospital I went to get poked and prodded.

It's funny, I can remember that clear as day, but I couldn't tell you that much else about my child hood. At least that far back. But that's one thing, I don't think I could forget..

Back to the story at hand, I was taken to UC Davis, which for us was only 45 minutes away. Which I was in luck, because they are some amazing doctors. So, they found where the stroke happened.. It was in the back left side of my brain, it was a bleed they said. Thankfully, children who have strokes tend to bounce back. They told me if I had been older, that stroke would have probably killed me. Thank goodness for resiliency. I was in the hospital a few weeks, just getting tests done. When I finally DID get out, they sent me home saying it must have been a fluke. That nothing would ever happen again..


Boy, were they wrong...


To Be Continued.

The beginning.

I have decided to branch out on the things I know and even the things I do not. Getting this across is what I believe I should be doing this with my life. For all the young sick kids. Whether it's cancer or diabetes or especially something as rare as I have. My point in this will be to show the strength I've attained from being ill my whole life. I hope this to be motivating. If i can help one person that will be my reward. You aren't alone. I'm figuring the good fight right along with me.  My next blog will be about the beginning. The 8 year old who had a stroke. And who I evolved out to be.

Doctors? I know what's wrong!

Have you ever been in a situation where you knew more than the doctors who are supposed to be taking care of you? If you have, welcome to the club. If you don't, then bloody congratulations to you for having found an amazing doctor. As of now, I have a wonderful doctor. She's up to speed with all the testing and things that need to be done. I was lucky when I got her.

So, this is for the people who do not have good doctors. If you have a horrible doctor, you should change. You shouldn't allow doctors to tell you what's specifically wrong with you. Sometimes you need a second opinion. And have a good opinion from a good doctor, few and far between. 

If you are experiencing this. Speak up! If your doctor still refuses to listen. Then what's the point. My sister in law has a doctor like that. And because I have been in and out of doctors, hospitals, since I was 8 years old. You learn things. You're taught how doctors SHOULD be treating you. You don't need abuse to have a doctor. And if a doctor wont even listen to whats going on, because they think they know it all, and that is the problem in itself. Being a know it all. Cocky. I'm better than you are. Screw that.

It really does help when you speak up. This is your right. You have every right to be heard. Make the point. Make it clear! It will help you in the long run. And also, this is very important. Ask questions. Even one's that seem off the wall. You deserve to know, and not pussy foot around. It can potentially save your life.

I've had my own experiences. The ambulance came to get me. I told them, and everyone else told them, I did NOT do drugs. And instead of listening, they shot me full of narcan and they couldn't figure out why I was not doing better. (Narcan is something that takes all opiates and other kinds of drugs to suddenly flush out and kills it) By this time I had lost consciousness. They shot me full of Narcan. Three times. THREE TIMES. Then after that they realized, "Oh, she's really not a drug addict." Then they shot me full of sugar, and I woke right up. See I had been sick for three days, I couldn't keep anything down, it would go in and right back out. So three days made my blood sugar drop incredibly low. Who would have thought?! You can't judge a  book by its cover. So even if they don't listen... Still tell them. Make sure they KNOW your allergies, I was hooked up to an IV of an antibiotic I was extremely allergic to. And I finally realized what the bag said and I panicked and started screaming for the nurse. 

These are just little things that help in cases of doctors. I just thought i would share. You have rights. You don't HAVE to stay in the hospital. If you'd rather get well at home. Then sign yourself out. But only if your sure you can take care of yourself. 

You might be asking why anyone would take advice from me. I had a stroke when I was 8 years old, that is when my medical education started. I've been in the hospital more times than I could count. I've had two open heart surgeries, heart failure, a-fib, hypertension, thyroid problems. The list does go on from there. 

So next time your in the hospital, or a doctors office, make sure you tell them what you know. How you feel. If you feel the diagnosis is wrong, speak up, and they will explain it to you. You only need the will to continue fighting for yourself.