You know the unfortunate thing we all have in common?

Is our ability to over see just how appreciative we are for what we have. It seems when we get disappointing news, or something bad happens and we are faced with the realization that it can all be taken away. We appreciate it a little more than usually.

After my rupture I found this to be true. Before my hemorrhage, though it was never my intention to do so, I would be so consumed in what I needed, wanted  and had to get done. I realized that it was time to just be in the moment. Even though we hear it all the time, we truly just need to enjoy the moment before it passes us by. I was home but I knew I was far from healed. Good news is even though my injury was very dangerous, it could have turned out worse than it had. My neurologist determined that we could go a few weeks before my next test, she wanted to see how my AVM will change during that time. I had to get another Angiogram ( this would be my 2nd) in early November, so my neurologist can decide on the best approach for my situation. Until then she advised to be aware of any changes, but don’t dwell on my injury. So I did!

Before I knew it, the month of October was coming to an end. You know what that means, it was Halloween! I’m not a big fan of Halloween since I get scared of just about everything and anything. I rarely ever dress up but that year my younger sister, Nadia ( who’s a big Halloween fan) and I decided to do something simple. The mutual thing we had in our closet was a leopard print sweater. So it was decided. We did our attempt of a leopard face makeup. Put on our leopard print sweaters and just like that we did our best attempt of a leopard costume. Both of us, along with my little brother spent Halloween passing out candy to trick or treaters.

November was a pretty busy month for me. On the 3rd is my oldest sisters birthday, my birthday is on the 14th, Thanksgiving and also my Angiogram appointment. The month started out with my sister Gabbys, birthday celebration. On the 9th I had my angiogram procedure. This time around I knew what to expect. Since my first procedure was painful I was nervous! My angiogram was a quick in and out the  procedure took about an hour. I had to remain lying down flat for 3hrs to avoid bleeding. Once they determined I was stable, I was discharged home. The days after my procedure were the worst. I didn’t have my appointment to read the results of my angiogram until the 29th. My birthday followed shortly after, and my family surprised me with a little party. After my birthday past my family was focused on Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday), making sure we had our menu prepped.

That Friday on the 18th I got a call from my neurologist office. They informed me that my neurologist wanted to push my appointment sooner. It was rescheduled for that upcoming Tuesday 22nd ( FYI my Neuro doctor only has appointments at her office on Tuesdays) so my appointment was moved forward a week. I was anxious for my appointment.  A million thoughts rushed through my mind as to why she would want to see me sooner. What did she find and what was next to come? On the 22nd my mom and I arrived for my appointment. Even though my mom tries to keep her cool I could tell she was just as nervous as I was. Finally my doctor came in. She pulled up the images from the angiogram; we reviewed them and she showed where the hemorrhage occurred, where exactly the AVM was and how big it was. She then proceeded to tell me my options in moving forward with treatment. She told me there was 3 options. 1. Radiation of the AVM, where results are not immediate. 2. A craniotomy, invasive surgery. 3. Non invasive brain surgery, otherwise referred to as embolization. She recommended the embolization since it’s not as invasive as a craniotomy. The embolization was similar to an angiogram. They would go in through the right groin with a catheter that will be placed in an artery that is directly feeding the AVM. Once in the artery they will inject a glue like substance called Onyx to block any feed into the AVM. My neurologist explained that this treatment could or could not be 100% effective in curing the AVM. Like any of the treatments there were possible side effects. My neurologist explained that my age helped a lot in how this surgery would be successful. Everything was in my favor. She said it was very unlikely, only a 1 in a million can experience some side effects that included stroke like symptoms, a possible stroke or death.

I felt confident in my chances and made the decision to have the embolization. My embolization was then scheduled for December 14, 2016.

(Scroll below for a few pics from Thanskgiving 2016)