Nadine Dillon Hielscher
June 1997,age 38, I had a bad migraine and went to bed early sunday and my husband couldn't wake me up monday morning except for me to tell him I'm okay just let me sleep. He went to work and came home that night and I was still in bed. I finally woke up tuesday morning but couldn't roll over. John pulled me up because I couldn't move. My pillow was soaked and my speech was slurred. He helped me up so I could go to the bathroom and I just dropped to the floor. Somehow I conveyed that I needed to go to the bathroom so he picked me up and sat me on the toilet. He turned around and I fell off the toilet hitting my head on the tub. He picked me up and put me to bed. My left side was totally numb and useless. He called my parent's and they took me to the hospital. Tests were ran and they didn't give me hope of even living. I was cold. Once I was sent to the rehab hosp. I finally understood what was going on. Stayed for 2 months. I also have muscular dystrophy and they didn't know how to treat me. August 97, At home my parent's took turns staying with me while John was at work. Sept, 1997 I could walk with a 3 wheeled walker. Therapy was not productive. No medications given. They guess the continual migraines weakened my artery wall in my brain. The main artery on the right side of my brain completely blew out. My muscles were already weakened from the m.d. Finally in late sept. I could get on and off the toilet with a walker. Today jan 1999 I turned 40 and struggle to do very basic things. Still cannot get showered or cloth myself. I write short stories though and am being published in spring.
I was a police dispatcher before the stroke and very active. Only short time problem with speech, but no memory or thought cognition problems.
John is fantastic with me. I have 7 indoor cats, 2 aquariums, 1 outside dog and 2 outdoor cats who give me lots of love and enjoyment. nadine dillon hielscher
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