On May 16, 2012 after 3 weeks in STICU at NHRMC I was airlifted to The Shepherd Center, the TOP SCI (Spinal Cord Injury) Rehab hospital in the nation, located in Atlanta. I am so thankful to my doctors at New Hanover for referring me here. This was a life changing experience.
When I arrived it was later that night. I was evaluated and it was decided that I still needed to be in ICU. I stayed in ICU another week where a blood clot was discovered in my right arm. Immediately I was placed on a high dosage of blood thinners which accompanied my other concoction of medicine. ICU was scarry for me. I was used to having at least one if not both of my parents with me around the clock, and they were not allowed to spend the night. I had an amazing ICU nurse named Beverly!
I was transferred to a regular room the day before my 26th birthday. This was one of the hardest birthdays. I was having to deal with a new life while letting go of most of my old life. I did get good news though... the next weekend I was going to get visitors! My Gimma, my Aunt Wanda, Amanda, & Andy were making the 6 hour trip to Atlanta to see me and we were going to have me a small birthday party. But...yes, there is always a but... the day before they arrived my parents had the worst job... they had to tell me that my PaPa had passed away on A May 9th. I was crushed. I was PaPa's girl. I was angry at my parents and my husband for not telling me immediately. Later, I realized it was for the best. I had a great weekend with my family was the first normalcy I had had since the accident.
When I was moved to to a regular room I was on the fifth floor in room 527 now known as the "Coffman room." I was introduced to my medical and rehab team which was Team Bilsky which consisted of
Dr. Gerald Bilsky, his PA Darvin Foo, my PT Megan, and my OT Ginger. I saw these 4 people 5-6 days a week from 8am-4pm. They pushed me hard! Many of you that know me know that I am very strong willed, very out spoken, and if I don't want to do it then I don't. They did not put up with that. I hated them for that at the time, but now I am so grateful for them pushing me.