In 2023 I was diagnosed with a cerebral AVM on the right side. In April this year I experienced my first rupture while studying for my first-semester exams. I felt as if I were dying—the left side of my body grew cold—and my roommate carried me to the emergency department. I was admitted there, and the next day I was moved to the ICU, where I spent nearly two weeks. From the ICU I was moved to a ward and remained there for another three weeks, still without medication. Every day felt like I was on the verge of death, but God was with me at all times. He comforted me when fear overwhelmed me and gave me a sense of hope and peace to live.
After three weeks in the ward, my doctor said there was no treatment for my case and discharged me, advising that I would need to fundraise to seek medical treatment overseas. With faith, I withdrew from my studies and went home. When doctors let me down, I trusted the Doctor of all doctors—God did not leave me. He is with me every day and is at work, and i believe he will completely heal me in his own timing.
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Welcome to our community. I experienced a bleed from a left temporal AVM, and was fortunate to have it stop bleeding and managed the swelling through steroids while I was in the hospital. I ended up with Gamma Knife treatment 6 months later, so I was fortunate to have that available. We have a lot of varied experiences here, many have had craniotomies, embolization, gamma knife or a combination thereof. We also many have who have not opted for medical intervention, or had the opportunity, many who’s risk is too high to attempt a medical procedure.
We are a diverse group, and will support one another in their chosen path, but will all pass along our experiences. We are all in this together! Take Care, John.