Thoughts.com Blogs - An Amputation for my birthday!?

It appears the day has snuck up on us again. This Sunday the 11th May is Mothers Day.

That special day of the year where Mothers all over the world are thanked for their endless, unconditional love and care they bestow on their children and other people in their reach.

For me this year also marks the 10th anniversary of my mums brain surgery, on Mothers Day.
She had collapsed at work on the Friday evening due to an aneurysm (swelling of a blood vessel) in her brain rupturing.

I recall rushing to the hospital to see my Mum laying there, awake, dazed and unsure. She was complaining of a headache and was holding a "sick" bag. Nobody appeared too concerned about her presence and this irritated me alot.
Ironically I had done a 3 day first aid course for work the week prior, and I assessed her condition as that of a stroke ... what would I know, right?

So with my new knowledge in hand, I led my Dad (who was beside himself) to the head nurse and suggested as such. She assured me that my Mum had merely had a "fit" and was just recovering from it, and they'd get to her when they could. ... once again what would I know, right?

We waited by Mum's side for another hour or more, before I once again insisted that her symptoms were stroke like and she should be seen to. I was concerned that if she had had a stroke then these minutes could be vital. I think the nurse was tired of me constantly glaring at her, so she organised for her to be seen next! Better than nothing I guess. But that next took another hour, and the nurse went off duty!

Eventually 5 hours after she'd arrived she was taken for some scans and they reported seeing a "shadow" on her brain! It could be a stroke or it could be a "berry" aneurysm or it could be nothing! However this particular hospital was not equipped and she' d have to be transferred. It was 11:30pm on a Friday night, we were all relieved that she'd finally been attended to, however now she was being transferred.

Fortunately the hospital that she was transferred to, is well known for it's specialty with brain injuries, mostly from Car Traumas, but they were also leading in the field of neurology. After a day of tests and scans, it was finally agreed that Mum had suffered from a Berry aneurysm rupturing in her brain.
It seems there was only a slow small leak, but the brain is very sensitive, and the blood escaping was aggravating the organ. So surgery was agreed upon, with the knowledge that
1 - she may not wake from it
2 - she may be disabled depending on which area of the brain the surgery concentrated on

or

3 - she did not have the surgery but would instead walk around like a walking Time-bomb where one day the aneurysm would actually burst completely and kill her instantly.

So surgery was scheduled for SUNDAY 11th MAY 1998 .... MOTHERS Day.

My Mum was being so brave, while we were all trying to not look concerned, she joked and laughed.
I still remember the last thing she said as they wheeled her into the Theatre......

She SAID

"Oh brain surgery for Mothers Day? .....
What are you going to give me for my Birthday.....
an amputation!?"

Mum - I love you!