In December of 1990 I had an AVM brain hemmorhage. Because Dr.s and emergency staff in one hospital mistook my non responsive attitude to a DRUG overdose, precious time was wasted in a hospital 1 hour away from another facility which had Dr.s and staff who were able to help. My Mother was with me in number 1 hospital and knew I was NOT a drug person. Rushed to a city hospital an hour away and after some diagnostics, it was decided I was having a rather huge brain hemmorhage. Dr. told my Mom they couldn't open my head lest it might just explode in blood to use a gross description.A shunt was placed in my head to help relieve pressure. More tests needed to be performed, and another neurosurgeon had to be consulted. Eventually, they did take out a section of my skull and did God knows what iver my right ear. I was non responsive and not really in a coma throughout this time.After surgery I was in intensive care for nearly 2 weeks. Tubes were in my head, my chest and an enormous bandage covered my head. A few days passed and they did an angiogram. An avm was discovered and had to be removed and patched up or whatever they call that process.All the while this was going on I was not your ideal patient. I was told to lie still....I didn't..........I couldn't stop talking and annoying the surgeon with questions and why the hell I didjn't see anything on the right side of either eye. I wanted the Dr. to write down a complete explaination of all thet had happened to me. He didn't like that either.Aparently, my curiosity annoyed both surgeons. THEN came the second surgery to clean up the problem. I HOPE!!! Fourteen days later and 2 brain surgeries and TWO angiograms later I was sent home. I took dilantin for a while although I never had a siezure. I THEN went to a rehab center for neuropsycological testing then on to another rehab center to see if I would be able to DRIVE a car with the new visual disability. Driver training saved my day and decided I'd be able to drive to work and take care of myself and lead a normal life after all. The surgeries SAVED my LIFE, and only left me with 5 large (not visible under my hair) dents in my head. I cannot see anything on the left half of either eye. I'm not BLIND.............my BRAIN is. If I turn my head more and do constant visual side to side looking, I rarely miss things. I also have a mild problem with SOME multitasking which was NO problem before the "blowout". Reading is VERY difficult unless I use a straight edge because I keep losing my place on a printed page. I do better with short sentences...like subtitles in a movie.I also see better in high contrast environments. I have never had a headach since December of 1990, but I have developed two autoimmune disorders. ONE was a muscle disease called PMR...that's gone, thank GOD! The other is never going to leave me I guess. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and undergo Remicade infusion every 8 weeks. Some nurse told me back in the blowout days I might have autoimmune problems 'down the road". HMmmm,......... I apologize for all this ranting. I just got word my best friend has a brain tumor and is having surgery on Monday. I needed to relive my own past for a couple minutes.Thanks for your time! I THINK I'm doing fine!.just a little blind.....NOT DEAD