An update...(1 of ????)

Josh and I bought a canoe this past spring. We were on the water every chance we had! We had some awesome camping trips, too! We went to the Peabody lakes several times (only camped there once). We went to Kentucky Lake twice. Most of the local "water holes" around here are familiar with our Pelican (canoe). Jayde & Paige went with us to Peabody. Jake & Isaac went with us on one of the trips to Kentucky lake.

On the first trip to Kentucky Lake, only Josh and I went. We left in the evening Friday, July 6, 2007. We bought our Back-Country Backpacking/Camping Permits. Then we went to look for a place to camp. We couldn't find an access road to get us into the woods that didn't have a water filled pot-hole as big as Josh's pick-up truck. So since it was dark & MUDDY! We chose to pick an actual camp ground to pitch our tent at for the night & that we would find a place the next day. So we went to Smith Bay. We set-up camp & pretty much went straight to bed after eating a sandwich. The next morning we woke up at 5:30 am. Put the canoe in the water & went fishing. About 15 minutes later...Josh hooks into a big Large Mouth Bass. So he is reeling this fish in...and it is fighting. I had already reeled my line in & I am waiting with the net in hand to help him scoop up his catch! I noticed the sun was rising over the ridge at the end of the bay. And as soon as I mentioned it to Josh ... all I remember happening was my head & eyes pulling up and to the right. That's it! I had a seizure. (My first & 0nly one.) But by the time my head hit the water - I was unconcious. Josh said I looked like the Statue of Liberty, with one arm straight up over my head & I was stiff as a board. He said I turned purple. He said when I first started tipping over he thought I was joking - teasing him because of his big fish. Luckily my feet were caught by the handle at the front of the canoe & the arms on my chair kept me from completely falling first into the water. Since we were stayed at the camp ground the night before - Josh was able to yell at the other campers to wake up & help us. This husband and wife woke up (well I am sure most of the camp ground woke up - but I don't know). So - Josh called 911. The ambulance did not know where Smith Bay was & wanted to know if there was a way for us to meet them at Moors Docks & Marina. There was not a boat dock at this camp ground - but there was a boat ramp. So this guy - backs his HUGE (I did see it later) speed boat down the ramp with his SUV. He unloads the boat - loads us in. Josh said we were going 80 mph across Kentucky Lake. I remember waking up as we were pulling into Moors. Josh asked me if I was ok...and I said yes. He told me I had had a seizure. I said, "No I didn't." He said, "Yes you did." I started crying & apologizing. Showing that I was still just coming to, I asked Josh if Willie (our neighbor at the time) was watching Halo (our dog). He told me yes...then he told me an ambulance was coming to meet us at the docks. I told him I didn't need one and that I was fine. But, then again - I was still just coming out of it & had no idea what I was talking about. I was unconcious for 20 min. So we got in the ambulance & they start pricking me & proding me & checking my eyes...my head was POUNDING! And all I wanted to do was sleep. At the hospital they did a CT Scan. They gave me this medicine called Cerebyx that made me break out in hives..so they gave me a little bit of it until I started itching and then they pulled it out of my IV and put a little bit of Benedryl until it was all gone. After it was all said and done with there - we went back to the camp ground and I slept all day long! We stayed because I didn't have the energy to get back in a vehicle & ride all the way home...I was beat! So the next morning we get decide we are going back home - we pack everything up. I had no energy & light hurt my eyes so bad - the meds I was taking absolutely knocked me out! We packed everything up and left. We headed to Benton - where we ate at Patti's Place. Yummy! (my first meal besides a few snacks since the sandwich on Friday night.) Then we headed home. Rough weekend. My seizure was on 7/07/07. And it is a day I will never forget.

I had an MRI when we got home. They found something so I had to go and have a second one done. They sent me to a Neurosurgeon. He said that I have an Arteriovenous Malformation or an AVM on my brain. Mine is cavernous - which is basically means I have a hole in my brain. I was born with it. They believe it bled which is why I had my seizure. The surgery risks outweigh the benefits so for now I am on anti-seizure meds. I couldn't drive for 90 days - which was a really big set back. When the Dr. in Benton, KY told me I could drive for 90 days I balled like a baby! My husband was burdened enough as it was - he didn't need to be my taxi to & from work or be doing my chores (bank, groceries, ect.)! But we survived. So that should bring up up to date on "some" of the stuff that has happened to us (most of you already know this stuff - but I had to put it on here for those who don't).