Hello all! My name is Jackie - I'm new to this network. I have never had an AVM myself, but a close and dear friend of mine had her first surgery to remove one in her brain and is currently on the mend from that (before her inevitable second surgery to remove it completely). She is such an inspiration (as all survivors are) that I am using her as the focus for an article I need to do for one of my classes.
MY REASON FOR THIS DISCUSSION: I need help from you guys! This article is for ACADEMIC PURPOSES ONLY! Any information and interviews I collect will only be in order to spread awareness and gain more information on AVMs.
I wanted to focus on AVMs to showcase how serious they are, how they are more common than we may think, and how people can raise awareness to help fight this!
IF ANYONE COULD RESPOND I'd be eternally grateful. This is my jumping off point so IDK exactly what I'm looking for besides survivor stories - one-on-one accounts of surgeries and even accounts of those who didn't survive who deserve a voice in this matter as well. Anyone willing to help please let me know!! I promise I'm not using this for my own selfish gain. While I will be using it for an assignment I really just want to show how AVMs are not something that should be ignored!
Hello Jackie, I am willing to help provide you with information. Many people on this site have detailed descriptions of how their AVM story began, what has taken place over time and where they are now. I have a fairly lengthy description of my "adventure" on my page and here is a link to the rest of the story...
thank you!! Would you mind if I used you as another survivor for my story? I would need some personal quotes from you and possibly use some quotes from your story (which I am going to read right now). I cannot thank you enough!!! : )
Where do i begin? I had an AVM in the right rear lobe of my brain in January 1990. It has been a great ordeal (and i don't mean fun). i have been suffering. My sight is bad, i am in a wheelchair and i can't really move or walk on my own. My hands are numb and my voice is very low and that is just off the top of my head. Emotionally, as you would guess from reading this, i am not very good. Up until the AVM (at 35 years old), i was working as a publisher and running 5 miles in a streach. The hardest thing i have had to give up is my work. There is not much positives in my life but i feel on this site i get the opportunity to tslk to others and share my story. If you are interested, there is a lot more info to tell. Let me know. Linda