Embracing Life’s Second Chances

Rewind five years ago to Saturday, February 29, 2020—it was a leap year—and I became a victim of road rage. My three-year-old daughter and I were in the car on our way to meet my mom for a shopping trip when another driver trailed me for three miles, aggressively trying to hit my car. Thankfully, the other driver eventually backed off and my daughter was unharmed. However, I thought I had sustained whiplash.

Shaken up, I decided to drive home because my neck hurt, and I had a terrible headache. Assuming it was just whiplash, I carried on with my life for an entire week, but my neck continued to hurt significantly.

On Monday, March 9, 2020, my life changed. My husband was traveling for work, so I woke up, got my three kids ready for school, and went to work. Once I arrived, I confided in a few co-workers, who happened to be nurses, that my tongue was drooping to one side when I stuck it out. They immediately advised me to go to the hospital, suspecting a stroke. A stroke? How could that be possible? I was a healthy 36-year-old with no prior medical history.

I was rushed to a hospital in Pittsburgh, where they discovered I had an internal carotid dissection with a pseudo-aneurysm pressing against a cranial nerve that controls the muscles of my tongue. Fortunately, the CT and MRI scans showed no signs of a stroke or brain damage. Due to the location of the dissection (a tear in the artery), an intervention or stent was not recommended. Instead, I would manage my condition with medication (Plavix) and allow my body to heal on its own. I was discharged with strict instructions to avoid any activities that could cause rapid and forceful neck movements, like roller coasters or chiropractic adjustments.

Fast forward to today: I am doing great! I have no deficiencies, and my quality of life remains unchanged. It’s almost an afterthought at this point, but it’s still a crazy story that I sometimes can’t believe.

Every year, as the anniversary approaches, I reflect on one of the scariest moments of my life and can’t help but feel thankful:

• I am grateful to work for a company in the healthcare industry that has provided me with clinical knowledge.
• I appreciate my colleagues, experienced cardiac and neuro nurses, who I will always be indebted to.
• I’m fortunate to have convenient access to world-renowned hospitals.
• I am thankful that I take Plavix daily because things could have been much worse.
• I love watching my kids laugh on roller coasters and seeing their joy when they exit the ride and find me on the bench with all the bags.
• I am grateful for a husband and family who would (and did) do anything for me when I couldn’t.
• Most of all, I am thankful to be here.

If you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke, call 911 immediately. A helpful tool to identify if someone is having a stroke is the FAST warning signs, which include: Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, and Time to call 911.