Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of my husband's surgery for AVM removal. It has been quite a year. The surgery was a success - AVM gone, no more migraines, no more seizures, all the physical stuff healed. It took about 4-5 months for the blurry vision to resolve because there was an irritated optical nerve.
What we weren't expecting, were all the effects to personality and memory. It has been a difficult road, some of the changes make it really hard to have a relationship with the man I have known for 17 years. Some of the changes have been for the better. I've given up the daydream that he'll ever be completely the same since people change regardless of having major brain surgery. My hope today is that we can continue to work together towards a new normal, whatever that looks like.
A brave post, Leeka. Your husband is so lucky to have you. Many improvements are still possible. I still hear of improvement even a decade after a brain event. Here is to many more good years!
I am the spouse of Seercat. We’ve been married for 35 years, 23 of those years post op. Yes, there have been personality changes, especially the first few years. But, all in all, the changes in her personality have been for the good. She emerged from the experience a stronger, better integrated person. It couldn’t have been easy trying to think with a brain with such a messed up blood flow prior to her surgery. However, the first couple of years were on the rough side. I am glade that I stuck around to see the story, it was worth it.
My hat is off to you, Leeka. Everyone who’s married says for better or worse, in sickness and in health, but you were put to the test. Your husband is a lucky man.
I’ve been married to my bride for 17 years too, and she’s stuck around so far. Three cheers to you, my wife, and all the partners who have stuck by an AVM Survivor!!
Hi Leeka, happy anniversary to your husband and I applaud you for all the years you have supported him! Yes, please continue to work together and I have thought in terms of my own relationship with my husband that he should stick with me for the best is yet to be. Oh, my husband and I will have been a couple for 32 years in October. Truthfully, he groaned when I excitedly told him one day that we had been a couple for 31.5 years but he is family to me now and I couldn't imagine my life without him. God bless your family and you abundantly.
Leeka, I teared up reading this. I love how you’ve been by his side and being strong through it all. Reading your blog post made me understand a little bit of what it’s like to be on the other side . My boyfriend has been my caretaker and my backbone through my avm and stroke and sometimes I don’t understand exactly what it’s like to be the one having to be the strong one not only for himself, but me too.