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A 7 1/2inch scar, 48 Staples, a collapsed lung, 2 pints of blood, being pulled out of septic shock, a chest and head tube, 4 I.V.'s and an $84,000 hospital bill later, I feel like
I was 13 years old when I came down with a strange sickness. I only thought I had pink eye at first but then it got worse. One Morning on a mildly warm day at my Fathers house in Southern California, I awoke to my head hurting. I went to use the restroom and when I looked in the mirror, my left eye was swollen and completely red. I went to my Father and said, " I need to go see the doctor". We then went to an eye doctor who stated that I simply had pink eye and proceeded to write a script. Later that day, after having the script filled for my medicine, we went home. 2 days later and after taking the medication for that period of time, I began to get extremely cold. It was getting close to the end of summer so please keep in mind that the evening temp was usually around 80°F. I Would have my Electric blanket on the max (90°F) and the thermostat set as high as it would possibly go with both having no effect on my body temp. I would say 2-4 more days pass when I awake one morning and find a golf ball size knot on my forehead. I ran to my father and showed him what the hell was on my face and he immediately rushed me to the emergency room. Here's the weird thing, while my father and I were headed to the E.R., the knot disappeared. Strange right? Since this is an Emergency room, we have to fill out ALL of the necessary paper work. We sat there for about an hour before seeing a physician. Finally the time came. They took us to the back examining room and informed me to take off my clothes and put on a hospital gown and so it begins... A Nurse comes in and proceeds to take my blood pressure and temp. I hear her let out a slight "Oh shit" from under her breath. The next thing I realize, I have 4 Doctors standing over me poking and prodding me like I was some kind of farm animal. After a few test's, Trials and Tribulations, they inform my father and I that I am too sick for them to handle. Of course at this point I'm freaking the fuck out. The doctor them informs me I'm going to be transferred to Loma Linda Medical University in Loma Linda, California. Now I'm really freaking out. After about an hour, the transport ambulance finally shows up. They load me up and off we go. The EMT's were extremely awesome. We Jammed out HARD on the way to Loma linda. It's now about 2 hours later and we've arrived. As they're wheeling me through the door I'm greeted by 2 more doctors asking me what day it is, where I'm at, what my name is. Dude, I'm fucking scared!!! They get me to the pediatrics unit and finally get me settled in. Well from this point on I really don't remember much. I recall waking up every now and then to people staring at me then would black out again. The next time I wake up I'm greeted by a doctor in ICU. He proceeds to say, "Son, we don't know whats wrong with you but I'm sorry to tell you, Your dying.". Thanks a lot asshole. I just woke up from a God only knows how long of a black out and you have the nerve to tell me I'm dying? Thanks for breaking the news to me easily. About a day later my father shows up and tells me he called my mom who should be arriving in a couple of days. A couple of days later and my mom finally shows up in the middle of the night. The Charge Nurse tried to tell her she couldn't come in my room because I was in Isolation. She said Fuck you, that's my baby boy in there and I don't give a fuck what you say, I'm going in. I guess to make a long story short (cause this will go on for another good 10 minutes of reading time), they ended up sending my blood down to the CDC in Atlanta. After then reviewing my test's they had come to a startling conclusion. I had Brucella Canis. When they do blood testing, they're normal results are a 1/15scale. Being the (1) blood against a disease with (15) results. Mine came back 1/365. All Positive. While I was in ICU, the knot on my forehead I had previously mentioned disappearing had magically reappeared. They pulled 15CC's of brown oatmeal like fluid from it. Still didn't know what the hell it was so there is another problem, what the fuck is it and how do we get rid of it? After receiving my test results they knew what they had to do to fix me, in a way. They still didn't know what the knot was. Here comes the head surgery After a few days I'm greeted by a panel of Doctors who tell me they are going to have to cut my head open and remove what ever the hell is in there. At this point in time I've been poked, prodded and tested soo many times I just didn't care anymore. I simply told them, let me die. I'm tired of suffering. Another day or 2 goes by and I finally have my surgery. A 7 1/2inch scar, 48 Staples, a collapsed lung, 2 pints of blood, being pulled out of septic shock, a chest and head tube, 4 I.V.'s and an $84,000 hospital bill later, I feel like a brand new person. Goes to find out a microscopic parasite entered through my optic nerve, attached itself to my brain, ate a hole through the front of my skull and started eating my body from the inside out. I'm the 3rd case since 1959 to survive this deadly disease. Hope you enjoyed my story. Feel free to comment. =) EDIT: I'm sorry for reposting. It was a suggestion from a friend. I henceforth used a different title taken from one of the paragraphs. I didn't realize how much of an unacceptable thing of me to do. =( EDIT*: Since I've had a couple of requests for pictures and proof that I've had the surgery, your going to have to wait til I get a hold of my Father and the Medical Center I was treated at. Since I'm 25 now I don't know if they are going to have my Medical Records anymore but I do believe that my Father still has pictures from it. Please give me a couple of weeks consider I live halfway across the US now. more