Cheyenne's road to recovery

Cheyenne went from being a healthy 20 year old finding her place in the world to fighting for her life in a matter of hours. For the last 50 days she’s been fighting to get back on her feet literally. On August 10 Cheyenne had to the ER because there was something very seriously off about her. During her work up, that's when things went sideways. They noticed some weakness in her right sight and a droop on the right side of her face. They took her to have a CT done and started following stroke protocol. Within about 30 minutes, it was confirmed that there was a blockage in a main vessel on the left side of her brain. What we witnessed at home before we brought her to the ER was the being of what would turn out to be a large stroke. In less than 10 minutes I was on the phone with the vascular surgeon discussing the next course of treatment. That treatment would emergency surgery to remove the blockage. As I was talking to the doctor, the ER staff was getting Cheyenne prepped it be air lifted to Jefferson Hospital in Washington Township. She would go straight to the OR as soon as they landed. While she flew to Washington Township Todd and I ran home to let the other kids know what was going on and to grab a few things before heading to the hospital. Telling the other kids that their sister had a stroke was heartbreaking. Once we got everything and everyone settled and calmed at the house, we made the longest 20 minute trip of our lives. I had so many things running through my brain. Once the surgery was complete and they were able to take us into Cheyenne's room, my heart broke all over again. Seeing your child laying there with all the leads and lines coming from her is heartbreaking. As Cheyenne was coming out of the anesthesia, she started saying she wanted to go home. She just wanted to go home. I tried to calm her down and explain that she couldn't go home yet. The nurses got her calmed down and she went back to sleep for a little bit. Things were looking good. About an hour after they brought her into the room, her nurse came in to do her neurological tests. She once again had a lot a weakness on her right. She consults with the surgeon and he says he wants another CT. This time the CT shows that there is another clot! Another conversation with the surgeon about a second surgery and the potential risks. It just got real very quick. After listening to what he told me, I was a mess. Being told that there is the potential for a catastrophic bleed because they have to go back into the same vessel they were just in. I fell apart. The fact that I could lose my child just hit me like a ton of bricks. She was taken back to the OR within 15 minutes of them discovering the second occlusion. Once again we have to wait. I tried to relax and think positive. I continue to pray for her to be okay and come out of the surgery. Surgeon comes in and my heart stops. He sits down and tells us that he was able to get the occlusion clearing 85-90%. I breathe. Unfortunately, we are not out of the woods yet. Things are now delayed because of this set back. That's okay though. Next few hours are filled with neurological checks and more scans,ultrasound, an ECHO and a MRI. MRI will show how much damage has been caused by this stroke. But still no reason why a healthy 20 year has suffered a stroke. On Call physician comes in to talk to us about the MRI results. More bad news. The damage is significant. Our girl is really sick. She also has a small amount of swelling in her brain. ECHO came back normal. Still no word on the blood work. They have taken so much blood and are running every test under the sun, including genetic tests for any glue as to why this is happening. More sitting and watching and waiting. It is soon discovered that they can't find the pulse in her left foot. An MRI is ordered for her chest down to check all the vessels. Scan shows a clot in her femoral artery. We have to have her transferred to the Jefferson Hospital in Center City. They have neuro surgeon and vascular surgeon on call. And that is where we are currently. She is stable and is starting to open her eyes more and for longer periods of time. She is also responding to the doctors having her open her eyes, lift her arms, raise her legs, etc. She has a long road to recovery. Since that harrowing night she has had several surgeries and the process was touch and go for a very long few days. She finally started to turn a corner and began to walk up the mountain that is recovery. She has had to learn to walk and talk and eat and all the things that we all take for granted. This process is difficult, she needs an advocate, she needs support which means missing work. The bills are mounting and just days before this Todd was laid off from his job. We are doing the best we can and have had amazing support system however, we need help to get her the best care possible and to keep the rest of our lives afloat. Unfortunately, life doesn't stop just because your world is in turmoil. So if you can please consider donating, if you can't please share, send love and prayers. It is all greatly appreciated.