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Joan Wilson
My name is Joan Wilson and I am 41 years old. I am a professional photographer and graphic designer with my own home-based business. On November 23,1999 while getting ready to go to work, a head ache came over me that was if someone hit me with a sledgehammer. It stunned me, my neck was suddenly very stiff. I was able to walk over to the sofa and sit, still concious. My husband was also home preparing to go to work. When he came into the room I told him what just happened. Although I had this excrutiating head ache, I told him to go on to work and that I would be fine. Reluctantly, he left. It was only twenty minutes after my husband left, that my head ache intensified and the nausea and vomiting began. Now I was very concerned. I called my step-daughter who lives just minutes away and I told her that I was not well and could she come over. By the time she arrived, I was starting to black out from the pain. We called my husband at this point. I knew that something was very seriously wrong.

When we arrived at the hospital, they did a ct scan right away which showed that I had a subarachnoid hemorrhage. I was then rushed to another hospital just forty miles away. The surgeon did an angiogram and it showed that I had what is called Arteriovenous Malformation or (AVM) a condition that I was born with. It was then explained to me that I had two choices. I could have the surgery or I could go home and "die". (and that is exactly how it was said) Followed by the fact that I was a "walking time bomb".

There were two surgeries involved. The first of which was the embolization of the arteries. They actually plug them with glue. This surgery was six hours and during this I suffered another bleed. Although, they call this a "controlled" bleed. This left me in a great deal of pain as well as constant vomiting. The following morning was my surgery to remove the malformation. It was twelve hours and I would remain in a coma for a week or so. When I came out of the coma, I had no memory at all and I was paralyzed on the left side.

With the love and compassion of my husband and family, and by the grace of God, I was able to regain the use of my left side and regain my long term memory. I am currently in rehab. three days a week and it's a constant struggle but I am alive.

I am very glad to have found this website and to be able to share my thoughts and feelings with those who truely understand how I feel.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Sincerely,
Joan Wilson
Survivor

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