One Year Ago

One year ago today, I was admitted to ICU at Orange Park Hospital in Orange Park, Florida. As my day started on the 20th of February, I never anticipated that by early Saturday morning I would be in ICU.

Instead, I was excited!! My fiance was coming to see me. He couldn't come down for Valentine's day, so he was coming that weekend instead. We had been counting down to his visit and I was looking forward to his visit. How I got through a day of teaching my 1st graders, I don't know. We hadn't seen each other since January 2 (the longest we had been apart since our first date in July). I couldn't wait to pick him up at the airport.

My day went pretty quickly; however, trouble started around 2:25 p.m. that afternoon. At that moment, a headache came on and strong. I had over 30 children in my classroom ready to be dismissed at back drive (where parents drove and picked them up). I was losing my patience quickly, partly because each time I turned my head, I had this pulsing sensation in my head. After I left the kids at the dismissal point with another teacher covering for me, I headed home so I could take out Daisy Mae (my dog) and then head to the airport to get Chris. I took a couple of Motrin before I even left school and I hoped they would take effect soon. Once at the airport, not only did I still have a headache, but it was a bit worse. So, in a scramble (and after realizing Chris's flight was delayed by 15 minutes), I went to gift shop and bought more Motrin and took 2 of them.

Chris and I were able to visit with each other, but I could tell he was worried. He encouraged me to go to the doctor, but I said I would be fine. It was a weird bug and I was sure I'd feel better in the morning. We had dinner and then hung out on the couch spending time together. But by 9 p.m., not only was my headache still there (not one Motrin ever worked) but I was also tired and wanted to lay down. Chris was also tired. Chris, again, encouraged me to see the doctor right then. I said no. So, he went to the guest room as I went to my bedroom. Soon after getting in my room, I was freezing cold. I was in my PJs and under the covers and couldn't get warm. I tried to sleep but with an awful headache that only seemed to get worse and being cold, I couldn't.

Around 11 p.m. I had to use the restroom. So I went to my bathroom. I had problems walking there, as I was dizzy and unsteady. As soon as I sat on the toilet, I threw up every where and couldn't seem to stop. I knew that I needed to see a doctor and soon. I had never been this sick before in my life. As I held the wall and my furniture to walk, I changed my PJ pants which now how a ton of vomit on them. I sat on my bed, took my temperature (which was over 103), and yelled for Chris. I kept calling out for him until I heard him say he was on his way. He came right away to see what was going on. I told him I thought I needed to see the doctor. He agreed after I told him what had been going one with me. He threw on his jacket and went outside to warm up my car. Then he came and got me. I could barely walk. He had to help me walk.

From there we went to the hospital ER which was only 5-7 minutes away. I anticipated we would have to wait a while before being seen...isn't that how it always is? Instead, after telling them what was going on, they brought me back within 5 minutes. I couldn't walk anymore and they rolled me by wheelchair. After that, my memory gets very fuzzy. I know someone mentioned spinal meningitis, but don't remember when. I had to give them a urine sample and they sent Chris in with me to help. In our state at the time, neither of us thought to mention we weren't married and were waiting to be initmate until we were. However, Chris was a perfect gentleman and helped me on and off the toilet but hid his eyese otherwise. I remember being cold and put in a room where it seemed like we waited forever. Chris says they gave me drugs and they knocked me out like a light.

Around 5 a.m. or so, the doctors determined I had spinal meningitis and admitted me to the hospital and finally moved me to a room in ICU. While that was going on, Chris had the task of notifying my parents about what was going on. I spent 3 weeks + in the hospital from there. During my time in the hospital, it was discovered I had a hole in my skull and neurosurgery was done to correct the problem.

In all, I was away from work for 2 1/2 months. It was a difficult time for my family, friends, Chris, and myself. I am so grateful that God was there for us! I had many friends praying for me and people I didn't know also added their prayers. I never want to scare my family or Chris again like that if possible. It was a year ago, but doesn't seem like that long. I do have one side effect of that surgery--an inability to smell (I can taste for those wondering). But, all in all, if that is the payment I need so that I can live....I'll take it. Life is good and wonderful! I married my best friend a few months later and we are quite happy. I hope this next year, though, is a bit less eventful.