But anyway, today is actually a really cool day. Uh, today, we're here to spend. With our special guest, um, who is an intern here at bind? And does also actually, um, a brain injury survivor. Um, she's currently being one of our counselors and we are really glad to have you here because I've been getting to meet you and all of that, but we're also really excited to have you here for our. Uh, listeners to get to know you a little bit better and for our members to know you too.
So. Thank you so much for coming in and being here to share your perspective. So thank you and welcome. Thank you. I'm honored and excited. Yeah. So just so I know that you and I have had a couple of personal conversations, but can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your story?
Absolutely. Um, I was 41. years old and one evening I could not walk down my hallway, pretty narrow hallway without running into the walls. And. Todd my better half said, I think we may need to go in emergency room. Um, we're very close to the hospital to the emergency room. Um, A lot of confusion later, her, um, I found out I had a brain tumor. And, um, Was scheduled for a craniotomy brain surgery a few days later. Um, and following that brain surgery. Um, Recovery. went well for a while.
And then, you know, I started losing weight. I, you know, all these other issues started coming up and it turned out that I had a MRSA infection in my brain. From the first surgery, um, as well as meningitis. Um, and. That original craniotomy and the resulting infection, um, caused cranial nerve damage. Um, In the resectioning and debulking of that tumor.
Well, I actually right now that I was listening to you the crainy, can you say that again?
Sure. Cranial nerve damage.
Okay. But the first surgery that you had
oh, uh, Oh, the. Craniotomy. There you go. Yes. Yes. He learned all sorts of fun, new words. Injuries. Don't we. I
actually had a surgery like that too. So when you were telling me, I'm like, I didn't even know that about you. That's awesome. I mean, not awesome, but you know, To be able to like, Learn more about you and just different things. We can relate to for.
Absolutely. Absolutely. It's nice to be in a room where craniotomy isn't like a bad word. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. It's true. Um,
Yeah. So, yeah. Um, I guess a little bit about the. You know, that's scary. I mean, just everybody's injuries a little bit different, but like, What. How was it edited, affect you afterwards? Like, you know, like Kezia and I have a little bit of cognitive issues here and there and wrong words, and obviously I'm physically.
Absolutely. Well, I had lots of effects, like so many of us, um, rehab for me was learning to walk and talk and. Um, Do all sorts of things all over again. Um, so for me, the cranial nerves that were affected, um, For trigeminal, um, which is your facial muscles and that's, um, on my right side. Um, and it also affected abducens. Um, which is the nerve that controls. Your eyes ability to go from center to the outside. And so my right eye.
will travel to the left up and down, but not to the right. Um, also with that Abdi. Decent cranial nerve damage. Um, my eye does not close all the way. So, um, It's it basically causes like a chronic dry eye. You know, for brain injuries or like the gift that keeps giving. Right. So I'm currently. Uh, have these new, I drops that they made out of my blood. Yeah, it was pretty crazy. Um, to see if they can help at least curtail some of the, um, cornea damage.
Um, I still cannot pass a swallow study, I guess that's Clawson. Pharyngeal, um, Nerve cranial nerve, excuse me. Um, but. I was. Determined that if I was going to live that I was going to be able to eat. So I had a feeding tube for about a year and a half. Um, But slowly, somehow my body figured out. Another way. Uh, to allow me to be able to swallow, um, Uh, I've had. four hip.
Dislocations and two hip replacements and consequences of actually vascular necrosis consequences from steroids and all the attempts to shrink the tumor. And then also, um, The treatment for the infection. Um, it took me a very long time. Um, to you. Get my neurocognitive testing. That was really hard for me. It's like, I didn't want to see. Um, And. I think it's probably now I can look at it as a blessing because I always spoke so quickly that no one could understand me.
I was always just like, kind of running around and. Um, so my processing speed is slowed down, but if you ask. People that know me. They probably say that was one of the benefits maybe, um, of the, of the whole ordeal. Um, But yeah. It's just really great for me to be around. My people. You know,
And we totally understand. We always tell everyone, no one gets a brain injured. Like a brain injury.
Amen. Yeah,
we're glad you're here and we're glad we get to help you with your internship. And we're excited about that. So, um, you said that. Like how long were you in the hospital with. your recovering. Did you, were you inpatient only outpatient? So
that funds. I went to, um, Like a skilled nursing. Okay. Originally. And then from there I transferred to Anna the pate location for residential. Uh, rehab. Okay. I was there. Um, I don't know, three months, something like that. till, finally, I was like, something's really wrong. And we went to MD Anderson in. And he's the head. Chondrosarcoma guy. And he took one. Look at me without. I mean a blood draw or anything. He said, she's got meningitis and she don't get her to the ER here or.
Drive back to Dallas and take her straight. She's not going to make it. Oh, wow. So really the brain cancer. Um, I mean, obviously hadn't gone and treated would fin. Um, detrimental, but, um, That was not really what caused the most critical elements, you know, when things got really bad, it's really that brain infection. Right. And the lack of anybody really recognizing that that's what was going on. Um, I went back, uh, Came back to Dallas, they open had a second craniotomy.
They opened it up, cleaned it all out. Um, went back through rehab again. I always knew that there was going to be two surgeries. So, um, chondrosarcoma is actually a bone cancer, really bone and cartilage. And so when it happens in the brain, it is going to be near the brainstem. Okay. And right around the carotid artery. So I still have a remaining part of the tumor. The piece that's wrapped around the carotid artery that, you know, obviously no surgeon would want to touch because.
To too dangerous. Um, but I've had proton radiation. Um, so hopefully that will abate any future growth. I just recently made five years. Without any new growth, so, oh, nice. That's great. Yeah, that was, uh, Uh, nice hallmark. In the journey.
Yeah. And I think you just had five years of not getting new, like any growth. But I think it's really important sometimes to like really. Recognize all the steps you have taken. And I think that everything you've been sharing of how your. What ended up happening? Yeah. You started with a, you know, a tumor and then it led to all of these that created a lot more. Like difficulties. But how long was it a go when you first had like the tumor? Like when did this whole journey start?
Or read or like, I dunno, hiccup step. Where did that pick up?
Sorry. Right. So like, And you have to understand, well, you all understand, like my memory. It's fuzzy. So this is piecing together memory and medical records. But, um, By the time I had. So the S. They ended up coming, going back in to finish. And obviously I went to a different surgeon at a different hospital. After. My first experience and, um, My neurosurgeon was Dr. Cohen, bruh. And he partnered up with Johan Han, who is a neurological ENT, um, both at medical city.
And. Because the cranial nerve damage, um, also affected. I had no, um, hearing at all in my right ear. I also had no vestibular. So it was getting no, like. Value from that ear for balance. Um, so the last surgery, they actually, that was their exit route for the tumor was through my ear. In that process, they went ahead and removed all of the ear mechanics out of that ear. So. Um, I cannot pass a field sobriety test.
No matter if I'm stone cold sober, because my, you know, my balance is, is an issue. Um, kind of also compounded with the vision to your, um, but all in all, um, You know, I was, when I say five years, no new growth on the tumor. I mean from the day it was discovered. If that makes sense. So there was a lot of messing going on in my brain and things were. You know, happening during that time, but, um, I really kind of. Was in the. Clearing. I say that, but that's that's prior to.
Uh, an eye surgery. You know, That's the hips. I mean, all of this other stuff, but. Really kind of out of the cancer. Treatments and rehab. After about two and a half years, three years.
Wow. Wow. Um, I'm going to press a quick pause. on, our conversation just to remind, like, not only you, but us. As a co-host and our listeners. Like the importance of your story and what we're sharing and how. We're doing this on every single episode on every Thursday. So. Let's continue listening to you and then remind our listeners to continue listening to us on every Thursday and then make sure to check our podcast. Eh, uh, bind waves on all your social platforms. So, yeah.
But thank you so much for sharing that. I think that's awesome. I'd like to hear all of that because that's a lot of. Bumps on the road. That's a lot. And I think that that's really good. Cause like we're seeing, I had a stroke in December. It's going to be six years ago and I thought a lot ahead of bumps, but you had a lot of bumps too. And like, look at like, You're so inspiring. And I don't think we've shared that yet.
So I would love to go with more towards like where you are today, because that was a huge adventure. From the very beginning, right. That none of that was expected. Right. So where are you today? Like? Where are you today? What are you doing here as an intern here,
but. Well, so I met, um, binds executive director. At Pate, he was my counselor when I was at the day program. And, um, I kind of once. Well, let me back up. So I'm. I matched the ranch in Anna. And you have, basically, it kind of reminds me of those. Coach. Motor coach inns you know, it. Like you had like a front door that open D. You know, out, and then you had an other door that opened into an interior hallway and, um, I remember one morning I was in the shower. And I was super dizzy.
And I hit my head and it's a con you know, it's like a concrete. cinder in a room block. You know, shower. And I was like, oh, I can't tell anybody. Because I didn't want to have any more precautions. You know, I was already mad cause I had a Walker and, and all of that. So. Um, And I realized, and I joked that I hit myself on the head and realized. I had been working to apply for disability. And had perceived that. And I realized. This is my opportunity to go back to school.
I did not have a great, um, First shot. I did a lot of. Well, maybe shots. Maybe that was my problem. In fact that was, yes. Um, And so I had my daughter 13 months later, my son, and, you know, I started a career in geriatrics and just never thought that was going to be a possibility until I retired one day. And that kept me going, you know, like I can just get through this. I can get to school. If I can get to this, I can get to school. And, you know, I, I could appreciate it more.
So I was, you know, Able to do better in school. Um, finished up my undergrad. And, um, then started on my master's and I am doing my internship to become a licensed professional counselor here at bind my new favorite place in the whole world.
So, okay. That was kind of one way of demanding. So you kind of did school and then you didn't do school and had a brain injury, and then I'm going to go back to school. That's pretty impressive because most people go. I had a brain injury, I can't finish school. So I'm very proud of you on that. Um, did you. Immediately when you decided to go back to school and did you know you wanted to work? With brain injured.
I mean, is that what made you decide to go into counseling and towards brain injury? Or?
I knew that I wanted to go into counseling. It's kind of something I always was interested in, but really felt out of the realm because I knew. I mean, I didn't have my undergrad. Uh, grad school. Um, and then, you know, it's just that whole make your pain, your purpose. I mean, it just makes sense. Um, And I had Brian and I had people that. Helped me along the way and that, you know, are. Instrumental in keeping me positive. You know, throughout, so. I owe it to the universe, you know?
Yeah. That's that's true. So right now. Um, that you're doing your internship for counseling. Now that you're here part of bind. Obviously you have like a whole different perspective because you're also a survivor. You've also been through a lot of issues that we individually have been through as members of bind and that those people that are sharing our stories are they're barely going through. But what are you looking forward to gain from bind as a counselor?
Because you have the perspective as a member or like as a brain injury survivor, but. As you know, through your internship, what are you looking forward to?
Well, I can tell you that. I mean, it's really like being in an inspiration factory. You know what I mean? I mean, it's like, The nice things that you're saying about me. It's like, that's what we're surrounded with every day. Um, you know, it's hard because we can see the resilience in others, you know, um, But sometimes it takes, you know, showing someone a mirror. So they can see their own. You know, resilience and this situation. Yeah. Um, and.
Kind of this, I guess the sentiment is real are all the same, but we're all very different, you know, it's like, All of our stories have these interesting nuanced. Particulars. Um, one thing I always ended up learning a lot. Because I'm looking up. Well, tell me more about what, how you know your brain injury. And then I'm looking up that part of the brain, and then I'm looking up that part of the brain and how it affects this. So I kind of liked that too.
It's just like, we don't know everything about the brain and. You know, Need that continual learning. Sure. You know, with each individual.
Yeah. And I honestly really like what you said about like a mirror. Because. I think that's really different to be connecting with Oh a counselor w after. Having an experience that's even a very little bit. Similar. It's amazing to be able to see someone that's easily connecting to you because you've lived through something like that. So, I'm super excited for you for bind for having you for. A while now as our intern. Um, and also for all of our listeners to be listening to us.
So thank you so much, honestly, for being here and taking the time to spend with us.
I have to tell you that. Um, part of, you know, we all have to go through our own things and, you know, even. You know, we can't forget those of us that do not show outward signs of our brain injury that has its own complications. Right. Cause it's like, Yeah. Anyway. Anyway. So for me, you can see my face, my, uh, palsy in the, in the face, my eye. And. That's been really hard to adjust to, especially in a counseling setting. I mean, literally you're sitting. Very close to someone.
Um, And. I can't tell you what. It felt like to be able to be here. Because all of a sudden I'm going to cry. All of a sudden it's thinking that made me feel. The most vulnerable. was my leading best asset. You know, it was better that you could see it on my face, that there would be no doubt. When I sat down with someone with the brain injury. That they would be able to know that I knew on some level, you know, where they were. And so. I can't. I. I shuttered to think. Had Brian not been like.
Okay, come on in and we'll talk about it. Um, right. This. Internships experience could have been a lot different. So I appreciate you all.
Well, we are so happy to have you here and that you're gaining all that experience and we get done a gain for ourselves for having you here, having someone to talk to. So we are so thankful that you came on here with us today and shared your story, and we can't wait to learn more about you, and we might have to have you back and get closer to the end of your internship, but thank you so much. Thanks to everyone for listening as listening to us. And thank you so much for
being here. Oh, thank y'all. I really appreciate
it. Yep. And if you would like to contact us for all the listeners and you included, if you would like to contact us, you can email us at bindwaves@thebind.org and just make sure to follow us on the Instagram account, which is obviously at the find waves at bindwaves. Sorry, and then visit us. The website of the bind.org/bind waves.
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