And It Begins

For an extended Christmas vacation Stephen and I went to Indiana where Stephen's family lives. Shortly after we returned for classes I discovered I was expecting. This surprised and freaked out both of us but we eventually buckled down and got ready. At 12 week's I passed the "danger zone" of pregnancy and announced it via facebook long after I told my family and close friends.

About halfway through my 18th week I got the announcement that my pregnant sister was in labor and soon gave birth. In light of tradition my mom bough t plane tickets to be with her new grandchild. Stephen was reminded of my own pregnant suffering and agreed to shop at Costco for relieving things like foods I craved (strawberries) and real orange juice for nausea and whatever else we needed.

He knew I needed practice driving on busy streets so I drove to and from Costco while speed walking in between. We got back to our apartment in half an hour. Stephen put away the groceries while I tended my plants. I checked my tree saplings. I must have taken longer to tend my plants than I thought because when I looked inside Stephen wasn't putting away groceries (the rest were my job) and I heard the computer in the other room. I moved my seedlings where they'd get more light.

It hit me.

 My leg didn't work and luckily a rail kept me from getting a cement facial. I called for Stephen who came to m y aid. He saw me clinging to the railing and moved me to a comfy chair. He ran to get shoes and immediately I felt a wave of numbness come over me. He carried me down the stairs into the car and went to the nearest medical facility, the BYU Health Center

The numbness kept getting worse and worse and so did Stephens stress level. For some reason I wasn't getting treated and Stephen yelled something which  got me treated really fast. I was put on an ambulance taking me to the hospital. Stephen wasn't allowed to ride with me but called my mom. I answered the  EMT's questions but they didn't understand me.

blur 

forget

 I had an MRI and had to sign for contrast. I did something to not mind the MRI and almost enjoy it but I forget what.


When I was still in the ER a Neurosurgeon told us what the MRI found. I had a raspberry like blood vessel in my brainstem and it was untreatable since t hat surgeon was uncomfortable operating and he didn't think anyone would do a brain-stem operation on a pregnant lady. My only hope was rehab. So rehab I did. A few weeks later was Easter Sunday