Amy O.
Friday, October 19, 2012
By: Amy Ofenbeck

Survivor

You Can Survive

I've had 8 brain and spinal surgeries stemming from a ruptured brain aneurysm beginning in 1997 when I was 26 years old. I also have a vocal cord implant because the bleed paralyzed a vocal cord leaving me without a voice.

In the past 15 years, I've had 8 brain and spinal surgeries stemming from a ruptured brain aneurysm. I had no idea I even had an aneurysm. I was simply working out at the gym when I collapsed unconscious.

The first surgery was to clip the bleed, the second to insert a shunt. Then there were 4 shunt revisions. A cyst was soon discovered that was causing the malfunctions so doctors punctured it. The final surgery was decompression surgery due to chairi malformation-essentially I had a cyst in my spine. Its been a rough road-I've spent months in physical therapy. I also see a pain management doctor now to help with pain.

But I'm great. I work part time, I drive, I'm a pet therapist at a hospital and school. You can survive.