KAREN
Hillenmeyer
It was to be a busy October day. I arose excited for some home remodel work to occur that morning. After dressing in usual work attire of navy scrubs, I started a slow cooker anticipating the aroma and convenience of prepared dinner after work. Heading to the hospital for a 7:30am surgical case, my morning was nothing but typical. After pulling out of my neighborhood, suddenly my left arm dropped from the steering wheel. I glanced down with odd recognition of the arm but no sense of its position or feeling. A failed attempt to move it initiated panic. Looking up, realizing I had drifted into oncoming traffic, I suddenly felt my world shift. I made it to the hospital for testing. My brain MRI revealed a right parietal stroke. I understood exactly what this meant, having cared for many patients through the years, but never anticipated this would happen to me. A workup found the cause was a hole in my heart—a large opening between upper chambers allowing “good” oxygen rich blood to mix back into the non-oxygenated side. Years of unexplained fatigue were explained! Through the opening, turbulent blood flow had allowed a clot to form. Choosing a random time to break free and travel, it found its permanent home in a blood vessel that fed the area of my brain controlling left arm use. The opening was surgically repaired. Retrospectively, this event was a blessing. With complete recovery, the repair left a more functional heart without the symptom of tiredness I endured for so long. I have never felt better—and I hope that sharing my story will increase awareness and help others.
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November 2017 | TopsInLex.com