At 17, I went to UVM on they're veterinary track. I loved horses. Giving my bratty Morgan horse up, to come to UVM, had been extremely emotional for me. Then, just as I began my junior year at UVM, I got lost in my decisions, and abandoned school, for a job as a stable hand, in southwest England. I just needed to get away from my crazy, scattered lifestyle in college, and find out if I belonged on the farm instead. I loved spending everyday on the farm, feeding, cleaning, riding, and running errands. I was mostly there because I often got to ride 3 times a day. The most hilarious event I participated in was the British Eventing Ball. It was literally a ball, where the woman wore gowns, and the men wore tuxedos. I remember finding it hilarious knowing that hours before, many of us had been up to our knees in soggy manure. I also felt like my attire declared my nationality, in an absurd fashion. I brought one dress, to England, and, it was a little black one. All the other women wore gorgeous gown, think prom dress, and the multiply how fabulous those are by 4. Nonetheless, I still had a wonderful time, despite the constant declararation of, 'oh, you must be the American.' Assumably, because I was 20, and legally intoxicated. And that wasn't even the most amusing part of my year. I had 3 close friends studying abroad that year, and was able to travel, and see each of them. I also got to validate my decision of taking a year off, in that I couldn't afford to pay for school, if I did not know what I wanted from it. I went home in May, and worked 2 serving jobs (waitress) to save money to live on, back at school. Wheni went back, I stuck with college of agriculture, and life sciences, but I switched my focus to public communications, and enabled myself to broaden my view of the world. I got a job at a local barn to help myself remember to stay grounded. My focus was better, and my GPA nearly doubled, after swiching my studies. In my final semester, I got the opportunity to study abroad too. I went to Belize, to a small private college, with 15 other UVM kids. When classes ended, I traveled with a friend for 2 weeks, returning days before graduation. The day I returned, I met Sean, who I was dating when my heart stopped. Irony is incredible sometimes. I'd returned to my per diem job as a secretary at the hospital, while I looked for a more life sustaining career. Just when I found it, I acquired this injury.
In June, I saw a doctor recommend by at friend, to get back on a prescription contraceptive. I didn't know a lot about it, but I asked for prescription for Orthtrycyclin, as it had helped tremendously, the year before iwith unpleasant woman issues. This doctor said that she could only offer me Yaz, I remember asking if it was similar to Yasmin, which I'd seen lawsuit commercials for. She said, yes, but that they had changed the formula, and the name since. In what I now recognize as terrible judgement, I allowed myself to be satisfied with that answer. I say that because after 4 months of absurd nausea, when I took it, I suffered a random cardiac arrest, my heart just stopped, from an extreme potassium deficiency. It was later determined, that those effects were cased by that same contraceptive, Yaz. Looking back, I think I'd rather have had a kid, than have become one again, myself.
This is my history, I acquired an anoxic brai injury because my heart stopped, and failed to get oxygenated blood to my brain. I owe the life I have now to countless people- Sean, my mom, my dad, my aunt, and my incredible friends from all facets of my life, my doctors, nurses,therapists, and adaptive recreation professionals. I am so thankful for them all, as each one has had a hand in helping me become who I am today. Thank you all, it's been a long trying road, and may always be, but still worth it, everyday I can help someone else see that no matter how bad it gets, there's always something to keep pushing for.
