Lisa Barrett Support Recovery After Severe Brain Injury

Hello, my name is Lisa Barrett and I am hoping you will have a moment to read my story about the recent, completely unexpected, brain injury I suffered. I suffer from depression but with the help of a psychiatrist and therapist I have been able to learn the tools needed to navigate through life. Until I wasn't. For months I had become overwhelmed with anxiety, twice thinking the panic attack was possibly a heart attack since it was a first time experience for me. I should have listened to myself and body so much better but life tells you to keep pushing, make your paycheck and try to take a vacation once a year. Everyone is different, and for me, my self mental and physical care was apparently being neglected and I had no clue what the future held for me do to it..

My physical health break occurred on July 23, 2024. The day started as usual but throughout the morning I thought I was getting a migraine headache. I have only had a couple of migraines in my lifetime so this was really the only assumption I could surmise. I took my lunch break to go get some medicine for it and by the time I returned to work I knew something was wrong. The pain was simply indescribable. My head, neck, and back were all locked and I was uncontrollably vomiting. I called one of my work besties and asked him to take me home. Thank goodness he was there in 2 minutes, waited for the vomiting to pass and got me home. Again, I am still thinking this is just a migraine. This is the end of my recollection for a couple of weeks. Apparently, I had my faculties together enough the next morning to call my mom and dad and tell them I needed to go to the hospital. I went Wednesday morning to Shady Grove Emergency in Germantown. By that afternoon I had been moved to the main hospital at Medical Center Drive and it was discovered that I had at least 1 brain bleed, and I was having a stroke. The mental deterioration was swift. At first, I am told, I was confused but alert, however by the next day I no longer knew my mom's name. It is Laura, I only now knew her as Samantha. I did not know who I was or my name. Then Friday afternoon I could no longer be woken up. A neurosurgeon was immediately brought in and my poor parents were informed that the pressure was so bad in my brain that if they did not drill to release the pressure, I might never wake up again. Obviously, my parents said drill. I still don't really recall anything until Wed Aug 7th. Albeit convoluted, I have memories of conversations that didn't happen and certainly thought I was only in the hospital for a couple of days....not almost 3 weeks. Sadly, I have a serious brain injury that is a complete unknown right now.

I was officially released from the hospital yesterday and am at my parents. I have a difficult road to recovery in front of me. Due to the damage from the stroke, my vision is literally diminished to no more than 20%. Losing your sight, in my opinion, is one of the most terrifying things that could happen. What if it doesn't come back? There are no answers or expectations right now. Everything is based on the head injury healing. I currently need 24-hour assistance that my beautiful parents just can't provide completely due to age, previous injuries, and lack of knowledge in this field. I am scared and terrified. I have never been a person to solicit or ask for money or help, but I know the severity of the situation. I do respectfully ask for help in forwarding my story. I don't have any social media at all, I don't know the best course of action. I just thought I would share my honest story. Thank you for just taking the time to hear me. But also remember to hear yourself and put your self-care first. Everyone deserves to be happy and healthy.