Once Bitten
A nice summer afternoon at the sweet age of 16, I remember being taken to the hospital. I spoke, it was jumbled. I began to stutter and my body began to shake uncontrollably, "I-I-I need t-t-to go to the hos-pi-pi-tal." I said to a friend. My shoes and clothes were being put on for me. I felt like I was constantly falling to the left.
I finally made it to the hospitals Emergency Room. By then, I was terrified because my body was getting worse and cold. I could not stop shaking and stuttering. I thought my entire left side was going to fall off constantly being poked by the feeling of needles. Had my brain exploded? Cause my head sure did hurt. Had my face fallen asleep? My left arm was there but I could not feel it, is that possible? I knew I was dying but, why?
Gosh, it's so cold in this room. Okay, I can still see, think and feel the one side of my body that's freezing, so I'm not dead. But, where's my mother? Where's my family? Maybe I am dead, can't be! But, what is this doctor talking about. Oh thank God, she's here, my mother. OH GOD, I AM DEAD, she is crying.
Now up to this point, as you see, I swear I'm dead. I know I'm talking but why does it sound like that? Why do I keep stuttering? Somehow I tried to fight the nurse because she wanted me to take the hair pins out of my hair for an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) of my brain. What did she say? Was she crazy? I had the fly French Roll with the Finger Waves action going on with the sponge roller in the middle of the bun holding my hair up. She was buggin' for real. But, what could I do? I could not stop her from taking them out. I could not even raise my hand to stop her or tell her no. That did it for me. I think I'm dying, I just got my hair done and now I have to mess it up for this mess? Yeah, that was my 16 year old mentality talking. Trans Ischemic (is-SKEE-mic) Attack, for short T.I.A or mini-stroke was the diagnoses…HA!! WOW!! WHATEVA!! ME!! Yeah right? Do you know how old I am? Who has a stroke, let alone a mini-stroke at the sweet age of 16?
I was taken to a different hospital where I stayed for a week in the Intensive Care Unit, (ICU). Scared was an understatement. Confusion was a word I no longer understood. I tell you after that episode God and I had a different relationship. What had I done?
I saw many specialists but I spent most of my hours with the Neurologists (Nervous System Specialist) and Speech Therapists undergoing boring on top of boring tests. All I wanted to do was sleep and stop talking. I made absolutely no sense and was totally embarrassed but, somehow they understood me and so did my family. Boy, I felt like a fool, an idiot.
"Methodist Episcopal", became my 2 favorite words. That was my final test. Those 2 little words made it possible for me to go home. I had to recite those words to the Speech Therapist on a daily basis without stuttering. Oh gosh was it hard. It made my head hurt just to say that. But the doctors agreed and "Home Sweet Home" it was for me. "Woo Hoo!"