Aged 26 I Walked Into Work and Collapsed, Then My Life Modified Eternally

[ad_1] At 26, I used to be waking up daily to sunshine and chance. Dwelling in Dubai, I had my dream job as knowledgeable dancer and kids's character performer.

My days began with sunbathing and ended on stage, enjoying everybody from Peter Rabbit to the Care Bears. I used to be surrounded by music and laughter, I had no worries, I simply felt so content material and completely satisfied.

However on November 16, 2021, all the things modified.

That morning, I had breakfast with a pal, speaking about our hopes and plans for the longer term. I bear in mind strolling to the automobile, after which nothing.

I went to work as regular, and apparently I used to be laughing and joking one second, after which I collapsed. The stage supervisor arrived and she or he put me within the restoration place, I used to be sweating profusely, the colour was disappearing from my face, and she or he stored me repeating my identify till I finished responding.

An image of Rees earlier than her signs began, left, and within the hospital after the situation was recognized, proper. An image of Rees earlier than her signs began, left, and within the hospital after the situation was recognized, proper. @mereridolivia/TikTok The following factor I bear in mind is being in a hospital mattress, no concept how I ended up there and about to be taught I had suffered a medical emergency that will unravel my complete life.

I do not bear in mind being advised, however realized from studying my notes that I had suffered a mind hemorrhage attributable to a ruptured arteriovenous malformation—an AVM—one thing I had by no means even heard of till it almost ended my life.

AVM is Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are uncommon vascular glitches that happen when arteries and veins kind irregular, direct connections, bypassing capillaries and regular tissues.

I used to be in ICYU for 11 days the place the medical doctors stated I wanted surgical procedure referred to as an endovascular embolization to deal with the AVM and aneurysms.

However as a result of I used to be in Dubai, and since it was nonetheless throughout Covid, getting an emergency surgical procedure wasn't easy. A member of the family wanted to log out on the process, however my sister, my emergency contact, examined optimistic for coronavirus and could not fly. So my brother and father stepped in and got here out as a substitute. They signed the kinds, and I used to be taken into surgical procedure.

The medical doctors went in via a blood vessel in my groin to dam off the aneurysm that had already burst, cease one other one from bursting, and begin treating the tangled blood vessels. I spent a month in a hospital in Dubai earlier than my insurance coverage ran out and I needed to be flown again dwelling to Wales.

I did not understand it on the time, however I used to be now homeless, my life in Dubai had vanished in a single day. Fortunately, I reside in a small city in Wales the place folks look out for one another. Buddies, neighbors, and even folks I barely knew got here collectively to verify I had someplace to remain.

Rees throughout varied therapies after being recognized with an AVM. Rees throughout varied therapies after being recognized with an AVM. @mereridolivia/TikTok Again within the U.Ok., I spent one other seven months within the hospital, at first I used to be too sick to understand the severity of my situation, and all of the whereas my sister was looking for me someplace to reside after I was properly sufficient to go away.

Restoration was gradual and surreal. For a very long time, I did not fairly grasp how severe all the things had been. However as I grew to become extra conscious, the fact sank in, my proper arm did not transfer. I may solely take a number of steps. The whole lot I would taken as a right now felt impossibly distant.

I used to be laughing and joking one second, after which I collapsed Mererid Olivia Rees

Whereas I used to be ready for the following stage of remedy I used to be advised the AVM was deep in my mind, making surgical procedure too dangerous. The plan was to make use of focused radiotherapy to shrink it slowly over time, and I used to be advised this might take 5 years to completely work.

Whereas ready for the radiotherapy, I used to be terrified. I had some terrible ideas, so I reached out for assist, began taking antidepressants, and progressively my thoughts started to settle. I joined the gymnasium, centered on getting as sturdy as potential, and did what I may to carry onto hope.

A yr later, I underwent radiotherapy to focus on the AVM, and for some time, I felt sturdy. I used to be gaining again some independence, travelling, seeing associates once more. I even began to really feel a bit like myself.

However simply after my twenty ninth birthday in 2024, issues took a flip. I misplaced my peripheral imaginative and prescient, my proper aspect grew to become weaker once more, and I may really feel myself sliding backward. The radiotherapy had brought on swelling in my mind—apparently a traditional response, however nonetheless terrifying.

At this time, Rees is seeking to the longer term as she continues to recuperate. At this time, Rees is seeking to the longer term as she continues to recuperate. @mereridolivia/TikTok I used to be placed on steroids to handle it, and whereas they helped bodily, they got here with their very own challenges. My psychological well being began to spiral as I felt I would misplaced all the enhancements I would fought so laborious for.

Due to this, I got here off the steroids and I'm slowly getting stronger once more. I've an MRI developing, and I am hoping it exhibits the swelling is gone. The second I get the all-clear, I am reserving a vacation. I've missed seeing the world greater than something. Journey was such a giant a part of who I used to be—of how I felt free.

Lately, I concentrate on my well being and health, and I do a little bit of part-time social media. I do know I will not dance once more, however I have been given one other probability.

I am nonetheless right here, and meaning I can change into one thing else, one thing new. The solar is shining in Wales, and I am simply so grateful to be alive, sitting in my backyard, soaking it in.