Linda's Story

I am a real-life miracle patient, having recovered 100% from an aneurysm, blood clot, and brain surgery. I hope you can see the “God thread” all the way through this tapestry of my life.

I arrived in the emergency room on a Wednesday afternoon in July. Shortly after, my memory stopped recording the events. Later, my husband told me all that happened.
I’d been whisked into surgery, where a spinal tap revealed blood in my spinal fluid, and an MRI showed abnormal brain activity in the form of an aneurysm. When the surgeon came out to talk with my husband, he was in tears. He said I was the first patient he hadn’t been able to help with a vascular coil. The aneurysm was too large to prevent further bleeding into my brain. I’d been left with my left side paralyzed.
In the ICU, they attached me to every monitor possible. Tubes and electrical equipment totally surrounded me, but I was aware of nothing. My husband held my hand, talked softly to me, and even sang quietly to me. At one point the head nurse said, “That’s it, no more visitors. She needs quiet rest, alone, NOW.” But as my husband started to leave, all those monitors went nuts! My blood pressure and heart rate soared sky high. It was clear: My husband had to stay, since the touch of his hand and the sound of his voice could bring down those vital signs so important to my recovery.
The next day the head of neurosurgery explained the options to my husband. The aneurysm was in the frontal right side of my brain. The easiest option, to go into my brain behind my left eye and over to the right side to coil the aneurysm, would leave me without speech and hearing. The second option, brain surgery, had less than a 10% chance of survival. Only 3% regain 80% of their faculties and strength. Only 1% make a complete recovery. My husband alone made the decision on my behalf. “Perform the brain surgery,” he said. “She would rather not live at all than live with no speech or hearing.” And he was right!
During the surgery, the doctors discovered a huge blood clot on my pituitary gland. Its removal added another 4 hours to the 8-hour surgery. I spent the next 2 weeks in a coma to prevent additional swelling in my brain. After that, I could have stayed at Kaiser on a floor for patients who won’t ever recover, but the doctors recognized the fighting spirit in this stubborn woman and sent me to Alvarado Convalescent Hospital, where I had the best chance for recovery.
After 2 weeks in rehab, I finally got to go home. The next 5 months, I worked hard 6 hours a day to regain the use of my left side and improve my speech and language. I gained physical and occupational living skills as well. When I left treatment, I had a new outlook on many things. The biggest one: This life is too short to concern myself with petty little small stuff that won’t make any difference in a hundred years!
I was invited to participate in our county’s only continuing adult education class for brain-injured adults. During the next 5 semesters, I learned a lot about my new self, including my “new normal.” The instructors, all medical professionals, were compassionate, understanding, and loving. We students were greatly encouraged to find a place where understanding peers and professionals accepted us.
During this time I was encouraged to take some college courses. I enrolled in an English class filled with interesting literature and assignments. Determined to at least pass, I completed the semester with a B! My goal is to return to college for a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. Much is needed when it comes to the recovery and continued care for brain injured people.
All of this – my remarkable recovery – was possible because God chose to allow me to stay on earth a little longer. My friends at Clairemont Covenant demonstrated God’s love by supplying meals, prayers, phone calls, cards, and more prayers. Men of faith surrounded my husband every day at the hospital. Drivers took me to doctor appointments, and one couple even drove me every day to the months of classes I took in rehab. Just as God gave me a miracle, his church body helped shape its reality.

Linda's Story

I am a real-life miracle patient, having recovered 100% from an aneurysm, blood clot, and brain surgery. I hope you can see the “God thread” all the way through this tapestry of my life.

I arrived in the emergency room on a Wednesday afternoon in July. Shortly after, my memory stopped recording the events. Later, my husband told me all that happened.
I’d been whisked into surgery, where a spinal tap revealed blood in my spinal fluid, and an MRI showed abnormal brain activity in the form of an aneurysm. When the surgeon came out to talk with my husband, he was in tears. He said I was the first patient he hadn’t been able to help with a vascular coil. The aneurysm was too large to prevent further bleeding into my brain. I’d been left with my left side paralyzed.
In the ICU, they attached me to every monitor possible. Tubes and electrical equipment totally surrounded me, but I was aware of nothing. My husband held my hand, talked softly to me, and even sang quietly to me. At one point the head nurse said, “That’s it, no more visitors. She needs quiet rest, alone, NOW.” But as my husband started to leave, all those monitors went nuts! My blood pressure and heart rate soared sky high. It was clear: My husband had to stay, since the touch of his hand and the sound of his voice could bring down those vital signs so important to my recovery.
The next day the head of neurosurgery explained the options to my husband. The aneurysm was in the frontal right side of my brain. The easiest option, to go into my brain behind my left eye and over to the right side to coil the aneurysm, would leave me without speech and hearing. The second option, brain surgery, had less than a 10% chance of survival. Only 3% regain 80% of their faculties and strength. Only 1% make a complete recovery. My husband alone made the decision on my behalf. “Perform the brain surgery,” he said. “She would rather not live at all than live with no speech or hearing.” And he was right!
During the surgery, the doctors discovered a huge blood clot on my pituitary gland. Its removal added another 4 hours to the 8-hour surgery. I spent the next 2 weeks in a coma to prevent additional swelling in my brain. After that, I could have stayed at Kaiser on a floor for patients who won’t ever recover, but the doctors recognized the fighting spirit in this stubborn woman and sent me to Alvarado Convalescent Hospital, where I had the best chance for recovery.
After 2 weeks in rehab, I finally got to go home. The next 5 months, I worked hard 6 hours a day to regain the use of my left side and improve my speech and language. I gained physical and occupational living skills as well. When I left treatment, I had a new outlook on many things. The biggest one: This life is too short to concern myself with petty little small stuff that won’t make any difference in a hundred years!
I was invited to participate in our county’s only continuing adult education class for brain-injured adults. During the next 5 semesters, I learned a lot about my new self, including my “new normal.” The instructors, all medical professionals, were compassionate, understanding, and loving. We students were greatly encouraged to find a place where understanding peers and professionals accepted us.
During this time I was encouraged to take some college courses. I enrolled in an English class filled with interesting literature and assignments. Determined to at least pass, I completed the semester with a B! My goal is to return to college for a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. Much is needed when it comes to the recovery and continued care for brain injured people.
All of this – my remarkable recovery – was possible because God chose to allow me to stay on earth a little longer. My friends at Clairemont Covenant demonstrated God’s love by supplying meals, prayers, phone calls, cards, and more prayers. Men of faith surrounded my husband every day at the hospital. Drivers took me to doctor appointments, and one couple even drove me every day to the months of classes I took in rehab. Just as God gave me a miracle, his church body helped shape its reality.