Скачать или смотреть During Mom's Award Ceremony, She Called It 'Just Headaches'—Then My Neurologist Stood

During Mom's Award Ceremony, She Called It 'Just Headaches'—Then My Neurologist Stood
‪@RevengeReturn-s3n‬

The headaches started when I was twenty-nine. Not mild tension headaches—debilitating episodes that made me vomit, lose vision in my left eye, and forget where I was. I was an elementary school teacher at Riverside Academy, missing days because I couldn't see well enough to drive.
"Cluster headaches with atypical features," Dr. Jennifer Walsh said after weeks of testing. "But there's something else. The MRI shows an arteriovenous malformation in your brain—an AVM. A tangle of abnormal blood vessels that could rupture at any time."
I stared at the brain scan. "Rupture?"
"Hemorrhagic stroke. We need surgery—either open surgery or gamma knife radiation—to eliminate it before it ruptures. Without treatment, you have about fifteen percent annual risk of a life-threatening brain bleed."
Surgery was scheduled for June. Cost after insurance: fifty-two thousand dollars. I'd need the entire summer off for recovery. My savings would be wiped out.
I called my mother that evening. Linda Foster was Director of Nursing Excellence at Memorial Hospital, responsible for nursing education across five facilities. She'd just been nominated for the State Nursing Leadership Award—a huge honor with a twenty-thousand-dollar prize and ceremony in September.
"An AVM?" Mom's tone was dismissive. "Emma, that sounds like something doctors find on scans and call serious when it's probably nothing. How big is it?"
"Dr. Walsh says it's small but dangerous because of location."
"So it's small. They probably want surgery to make money. Have you tried migraine medication?"
"Mom, this isn't migraines. This is abnormal blood vessels that could cause a stroke."
"Honey, I've been a nurse for three decades. Doctors love to scare patients. Fifteen percent chance? That means eighty-five percent nothing happens. Pretty good odds."
My head pounded. "Dr. Walsh says I need surgery."
"She's being overly cautious. Look, your sister's wedding is in August. We've spent forty thousand already. Your father and I cannot help with medical costs. Maybe payment plans? Or wait a year?"
"Every year I wait, I have fifteen percent chance of brain hemorrhage."
"Emma, you've always been anxious about health. Remember when you thought you had appendicitis and it was gas? You're catastrophizing. These headaches are probably work stress. Try a vacation?"
Two days later she called back, voice bright. "Exciting news! I'm a finalist for the State Nursing Leadership Award. Ceremony is September fourteenth at the Grand Ballroom. You'll come, of course. I'm giving an acceptance speech about family values in nursing."
"Congratulations, Mom."
"I want you front row. Your father, Kelly, you. Perfect family picture. Oh, and Emma, try to look healthy. I don't want people thinking something's wrong."



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