A day to remember.

[Wazza84]

Hiya All

Today marks 9 years since I had a massive brain haemorrhage due to an AVM in my brain stem.. 9 years since my life changed forever... 1 year and 22 days in hospital (4 month Salford Royal & 8 month Trafford general) .. I don’t remember the night it happened, I don’t remember a lot of things that happened in my life, I do remember people I’ve encountered in my life but situations and experiences I don’t remember, it’s a very strange thing to look at a photo/video I’m in and have no recollection of the time.. my motability is poor (balance problems,right sided weakness) and my short term memory is shocking, speech problems... anyway I’m not complaining because I’m alive, I’m here & I’m a survivor 😁

And as always a big thanks to the #NHS for saving me and thanks to my Mam, my Sister & my Nieces for being by my side through it all ❤️

[Guppygould]

Fellow 9 year survivor! My 9 year anniversary (if you want to call it that?) was last week too.

[Blossoms2]

❤️

[cat3]

9 years for me too Wazza. And we've much more in common such as Salford Royal and same long-term effects .........balance and word recall by far my worst.

I think Headway is the one place we can be who we really are !

Keep on keeping on m'love .... 🥴 Cat x

[Wazza84 in reply to cat3]

9 years in the blink of an eye Cat... 😳

[cat3 in reply to Wazza84]

I know 😏... I suppose the short term memory is like an automatic 'delete' for each day that passes !

Take care Wazza.. x

[bbharry]

Bless you Wazza you warrior! This year will be my 20th anniversary of my car accident, go so bloomin quick! Give yourself a high 5 from me! 👋🏻💪🏻💕

[Wazza84 in reply to bbharry]

😂 high five ✋🏻

[bbharry in reply to Wazza84]

😂😍

[Alibongo60]

Congratulations wazza, your message gives everyone hope, I too was treated at Salford and owe them my life, like you I have similar problems, but will take them over the alternative, keep going lad and send you lots of love Alice xx

[Wazza84 in reply to Alibongo60]

Thanks Alibongo, such a nice message 😁 when was you in Salford? I was/am under Mr Holland neurosurgeon x

[Alibongo60 in reply to Wazza84]

Hi wazza, I am under mr holsgrove, neurosurgeon and mr Williams is Neuroradiologist, my first op was in 2012, in 2017 when aneurysm ruptured and I had a bleed, spent nearly three weeks in high dependency, I surprised them all to recover with very little problems, then couple years ago, I started having mini strokes and found aneurysm had grown and was pressing on brain stem. Spent week in Majorcan hospital, that was a nightmare, thank god for our nhs, and was due on returning home to try have more coils fitted, but when I went to surgery, a blood clot had blocked off aneurysm, scans since it is still in place and aneurysm has shrunk. It’s very unpredictable and they don’t know how long I have, but I’ll take this for now, have problems with balance, memory, and varying degrees of head pain, haven’t been able to work since, but with COVID that isn’t bad thing, worked all my life, brought up three children single handed, so it’s time to take things easier, just wish I could do more. Lots of luck for you love Alice xx

[Wazza84 in reply to Alibongo60]

I’m sorry you’re going through that but you have such a positive vibe and you look at all the positive things you’ve achieved.. thanks and all the best for you too x

[AlmaMatters]

Congrats Wazza on 9 years - that is an achievement in itself as we know! I’m nearly 11 years (in June) and your story sounds quite similar to mine. I know how hard it can be, give yourself a big pat on the back you’re a trooper!

[Wazza84 in reply to AlmaMatters]

Hiya AlmaMatters

I just had a quick read of your story & yea we have a similar story to tell.

I’d never even heard of an AVM until my bleed 🙄 my AVM completely changed my life the day it burst..

did you have an AVM that burst or was it removed?

[AlmaMatters]

Hi Wazza I hadn’t heard of it either until I was v abruptly diagnosed with it by an awful ENT surgeon! Mine was removed via craniotomy but during that surgery it bled very badly (I lost 14 pints of blood). Changed my life in just about every way too. It is a bizarre situation to find yourself in isn’t it. x

[Wazza84 in reply to AlmaMatters]

It is bizarre.. one day I was on an Easter break from work next day I was in hospital for a year 😳

[Hidden]

Good on you Wazza, your ninth anniversary is definitely worth celebrating with your loving family. The fact that you survived is amazing. Hope you enjoy many more milestones.