A baby girl was born with Beta Strep Meningitis and an Umbilical Hernia. She developed Hydrocephalus. That little baby was me. At 6 months old I had a Ventricular Shunt placed in my brain. The shunt was placed in my brain,behind my right ear with a tubing that is placed under my skin and into my abdomen. This allows it to drain the fluid off my brain. My mom and dad were told that I wouldn't live without the shunt. I had my entire family and my church family praying for me. The surgery was successful. I continued to have seizures until I was 7 yrs old. I remember one time when I had a seizure. We lived in San Antonio, Tx. My mom was so scared and crying, my sister (who was 3yrs old) told my mom to call 911. I was transported by ambulance every time I had a seizure. I would go to the emergency room and get IV fluids, then be released. My dad joined the Army and my family was stationed in Virginia. It was the first time my family didn't live near our family. My parents were trying to find a church home in Virginia, but had not found the right fit. One day I became very lethargic and was vomiting uncontrollably with a serve headache. My speech was slurred and garbled. My parents took me the emergency room on the military post. The doctors told my parents they could not help me there, they had to take me to Walter Reed Medical Hospital in D.C. I had "outgrown" my shunt. The cord had come out of the abdominal wall and was not draining. Emergency surgery was done to replace the shunt. My head was shaved and prepped for surgery. My parents prayed for me to survive the surgery. I was always a good patient never complained. I have a very high pain tolerance. In one year I had 8 shunt replacements. Which meant trips back to Portsmouth every time. My mom would stay at the hospital and my dad would stay with my sister, work and take her to daycare. Normally right after surgery, I would be back to myself. It was an instant relief. Normal speech, talking, laughing and asking for food. The 7th surgery had been done and my mom was sitting with me in the ICU watching the movie Love BUG. My dad had just left to take my sister home. My mom and I were watching the movie and talking, out of nowhere my speech was slurred and I told my mom that my head and legs hurt. I began to cry out in pain and then became unconscious. The nurses came running over and called Code Blue to ICU. The pressure had built up so high that my heart was trying to stop. They ripped off the bandage on my head and started unplugging my bed and all my IV's tp run me down the hall to the operating room. I was in and out of consciousness. My mom was running with the nurses down the hall, saying "I love you baby girl!". Right before we entered the surgery area, I reached out my hand and said, in slurred speech," I love you mommy!". My mom stopped in her tracks. Was that a goodbye "I LOVE YOU"? Would she her baby girl again. When my mom turned around there was a Priest standing behind her to offer help. She realized he had shown up because of the "Code Blue" call. My mom starting screaming at him to "Go Away" because he was not needed, her baby girl will be fine. My mom was very angry with God. My mom called my dad to come back, it was not good. My mom called my family in Texas to let them know. There were many, many people praying for my family and I. Again with God's grace and lots of prayers , I made it through the surgery yet again. My mom, dad and little sister were there when I came out of surgery. I was sitting up asking for a hamburger. My parents had so many emotions anger, love and relief. The doctors told my parents I would be mentally handicapped due to all the surgeries. I would not live a normal teenage life, or get married and have children. This will be a life long struggle. When I was able to attend school my parents took me back. I was in and out of the hospital my entire 2nd grade year. The school wanted to put me in Special Ed classes. My mom fought for me and I was placed in a normal classroom. I had missed school but, I was not handicapped in any way. So I repeated the 2nd grade I a normal classroom. My family was transferred back to San Antonio to the Major Medical Center. Eventually my dad got out of the military and my family moved home to Henrietta. I attended Junior High and High School, played sports, went on dates, like a normal teenager. My Junior year I was playing in a volleyball tournament in New Castle. Between games I was talking to my mom. I told her my head hurt and I was nauseated. I also told her I saw 12 girls on the other side of the court instead of 6. Mom knew right away it was my shunt. Mom rushed me to the emergency room at Bethania Hospital. It was determined that my shunt had calcified and the tubing had broke apart. I had emergency surgery that night. There were 65 friends and family sitting in the OR waiting room to make sure I was ok. I believe with all my heart that I wouldn't have made it through the surgery without God and all prayers. Surgery was successful again. My head was shaved yet again. I went back to school on Monday and took off a week of Volleyball. My neurosurgeon told my parents to let me live my life, and play what I wanted. Reluctantly my parents agreed. I was back on the Volleyball court that very next week , with stitches and bandage on my head. I graduated High School taking normal classes and married a year later. My husband and I moved to Mansfield and soon was pregnant with our first child. At 12 weeks into my pregnancy I got really sick. It was determined that my shunt was not functioning again. I had another emergency shunt replacement. I was worried about my baby. I prayed to God "Please Keep my baby safe and please don't let the baby be harmed. The surgeon said that be needed to save me first and could not worry about if it affected the baby. The surgery was a success and the baby was not harmed. At 20 weeks it was determined due to my growing belly that my shunt could not drain in the position it was in. So another shunt replacement was performed. This time the baby was moved and the shunt was placed under it. Surgery was a successful again. I was able to deliver a health baby boy with no complications. Since then I have had a second son and have had no other surgeries. I have a very busy life being a wife, mother two sons. Yes I will have to be aware of my symptoms for the rest of my life. After many years of "why me" I realized God was with me the whole time. With God all Things are possible. Matthew 19:26. My mom was told that my condition and all the surgeries I have had that is a Miracle that I still alive. God is in Control, We just have to let GO. Through all this I know God is in Control. I'm raising my boys in church and I do not take life for granted at all. Life is too precious. Everything is possible with God. Dear Heart Design's pieces are meant to provide opportunities to share your story or testimony with others. Each story shared in Unveiling Grace receives a piece to allow them to further share their story with others every single day. Have a story to share?
www.dearheartdesigns.com
2 Comments
1/2/2017 08:22:46 am
You and your mom are beautiful people inside and out.Thank you for sharing your story.May God bless you and keep you healthy and safe.
Reply
Maribel Gutierrez
3/28/2017 09:24:34 pm
I love you so much Boog! You are a strong, wonderful woman. I remember when we were at work and you were telling me about it and how worried dad and mom would get. I thank God for you everyday and blessed to have you and the family in my little families life. I can't wait to see you at the Lyndon Laseman fun run. Much needed time together. Love you Angela!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
October 2016
Categories |