Two years?? That's crazy! In some ways in feel like it's been 2 months and at the same time it feels like 10 years.
I know I've said it a lot throughout my posts but I really can't say it enough, I truly appreciate each and every one of you who has helped, guided and supported me along this journey.
Two years ago today it was a beautiful morning! February 23rd 7am and I went into the hospital wearing a t-shirt-- no jacket was required because it was so nice out! I thought that was a sign that the surgery would go beautifully and I would be home recovering in 72 hours, and never have to worry about an AVM again. Boy was I wrong.
After a 2 week stay in the hospital, 8 months of rigorous physical therapy and another surgery a little over a year later, here I am.
But even if I could, I would not change a thing about what happened two years ago.
Not being able to walk taught me so much about myself and my inner strength; it taught me how precious life is and how everything can change in one second; it taught me the importance of family and friends and how blessed I am to have such incredible people in my life. These last two years have taught me to never take anything for granted-- and for that newfound appreciation for life, I could not even dream of changing a thing about what happened.
So now for my update. It's been two years since my infarction and I am 100% back from that. It's crazy because while I know I'm 100% back, there are still things that amaze me that I'm able to do every day. Like, walking quickly through Times Square and weaving in and out of tourist pedestrian traffic; or, running up or down stairs without holding a banister; or, walking on the edge of the sidewalk like a balance beam; or, running across the street when the red hand stopped blinking and I have 2 seconds before oncoming traffic starts speeding towards me haha. It's incredible how far I have come.
I have been going for my routine check ups to my neurologist who is very pleased with my recovery from both the initial surgery as well as the gamma knife I had in April. I will need to go for a 1 year follow up MRI at the end of April to see if the gamma knife did what it was supposed to do-- so I guess that will be the next update.
Until then, thank you so much for all of your support-- there is no way I could be here without it!!!
HAPPY TWO YEAR BRAINAVERSARY, EVERYONE!!!
