Lisa's Story

The year 2002 held alot of dreams for the future for Lisa. She had just turned 21 and would be graduating with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Her boyfriend of one year was building a home that they planned to share after marriage and was very active with friends. She also had a full-time job. Life was great and going as planned.

On March 21, 2002 three months after her 21 st birthday, Lisa had a seizure called Status Epilepticus-she seized for 28 days. She was in a drug induced coma to try and ease or stop the seizing. During her two month stay in ICU we were given very little hope of her recovery. Our priest was called in for last rites, we were told that if we were praying people to do just that and so we did along with many friends, family and strangers whose paths we crossed. One day Lisa just stopped seizing. On May 17,2002 Lisa left the hospital.

Lisa's brain had been taxed to the limit. After prolonged seizing and swelling of the right side of the brain it had eventually shrunk smaller than the left side. She had to walk with a walker, learn to read, write and use her hands. Physical and occupational therapy were a large part of her days. Life as she knew it had changed.

It has been six years and Lisa continues with some therapies continuing to improve in some areas. She attends support groups such as Headway of WNY which has helped her greatly with understanding and hope. Lisa has a boyfriend now, she volunteers and is enjoying life again. Some things will always be difficult for her but with the help of several wonderful people and agencies like Headway she smiles again and is becoming comfortable with who she has become. 

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