15 Jun 2016
I am a 21-year-old college student pursuing a career as a Physical Therapist Assistant. I recently finished my general education courses and will be transferring to Finlandia University in the fall to take part in their PTA program. At the completion of this program I will earn an Associate in Applied Science degree and will be able to legally practice as a PTA after I take the National Physical Therapist Assistant Exam (NPTAE). My current plans are to stay locally in Michigan and hopefully work in a hospital or out-patient care facility.
Essay:
The Calling of a Lifetime
“There is nothing else I can do. There is nothing else I can do. You need a miracle or your daughter is not going to survive”. These were the words coming from the neurosurgeon as he paced back and forth in front of my parents. He was referring to the severe vasospasms that were causing the vessels in my head to clamp shut and prevent blood from passing through. In 2013, at the age of 18, I suffered from a grade 4 ruptured brain aneurysm that affected my frontal lobe. Afterward, the vasospasms caused me to have a stroke that left me to relearn everything that I took for granted such as the simple act of walking. I remember the physical therapists holding me upright just to help me sit up. I was too weak to hold myself up let alone walk. When it took 4 physical therapists to help me walk around, I knew I was in bad shape. My legs had to be moved for me. Every day was a new challenge, as I could not do anything on my own. At first, just a simple thumbs up from me was an accomplishment that gave everyone, especially my parents, joy.
Spending 2 months in the hospital was a very unique experience for an 18 year old. I had just graduated high school and was planning on enjoying my freedom. Now, however, I had a tube in my stomach giving me food, a tube down my throat helping me breathe, and a catheter in my bladder so I didn’t have to get up to use the bathroom. I was completely out of control of my body and relying on strangers to take care of my most basic needs. When I finally started moving, it was a great relief. As soon as I became strong enough, I was moved to the rehabilitation floor of the hospital where I spent every day in intense therapy including speech, occupational, recreational, and physical therapy.
My biggest goal in therapy was to run again because I was a dedicated runner participating in track and cross-country in high school. In order to do this, however, I needed to learn how to walk first. I remember the first time the physical therapists tried to help me just sit up. My muscles were weak from dystrophy due to being in a hospital bed for so long. I would just flop over like a limp pancake as they tried to correct my posture. Then when the PTs tried to get me to walk, it took 3 of them to move my legs for me and help me stay upright as they slowly moved me across the room with my walker. From that day on I became stronger as I walked around the PT gym and up and down the halls over and over again with the help of my physical therapist, Aaron. The day that I walked with no assistance whatsoever was amazing to me along with the day I ran by myself as well. In all those moments it was the physical therapists by my side that helped me achieve my goals and get back to the life I once knew. It was only 11 months after my release from the hospital that I ran in the Hope Starts Here Challenge: a race constructed for the Upper Michigan Brain Tumor Center to raise awareness!
I am now 21 years old and I have recovered almost entirely from my brain injury. However, I do struggle with memory loss, anxiety, and frequent headaches. I have now also been diagnosed with a rare vascular disease called Moyamoya. This is the progressive stenosis of my internal carotid arteries. I recently underwent a bypass surgery of my right internal carotid artery to increase blood flow to my brain. Currently I am a college student pursuing a degree in physical therapy. I am also a part of a Christian fellowship program at my college called, Intervarsity. Being a part of this I am learning to love others around me and keep God close in my life. Additionally, I am preparing to transfer to Finlandia University in the fall of 2016 to participate in their physical therapist assistant program. At the completion of this program I will earn an Associate in Applied Science degree and will be able to legally practice as a PTA after I take the National Physical Therapist Assistant Exam (NPTAE). My current plans are to stay locally in Michigan and hopefully work in a hospital or out-patient care facility. Because God performed a miracle to save my life, I feel it is my calling to be a PTA and help others who are going through a similar situation that I went through. I am looking forward to furthering my education to be an inspiration to others and to spread God’s love.