My Aunt Christy not only survived a brain aneurysm, she is thriving. She and her husband, Chris, wanted me to share their story of this traumatic life altering experience to not only show the urgency in getting immediate care (if this is possible) but more importantly, depict that all things are possible through care, love, compassion, and the tenacity and will to live.
As not to deter from the seriousness of this event, I wanted to add another piece to their story to show correlations with medical astrology and her planetary transits with her natal birth chart on the day of her aneurysm, July 26, 2020.
This is Real
I woke up with a headache, probably the same lingering one from the day before. Venturing into the bathroom to take a shower, something kept telling me not to get in, and I just felt spacey, not normal, I couldn’t raise my arms. I thought it was my neck, and my surgeon had always informed me if I ever fell or felt this way, maybe I should go to the hospital.
“Something doesn’t feel right. Chris,”, “I need you to come back right now.” Her husband had gone to grab coffees, and as soon as she phoned him, he could hear the fear in her voice that something wasn’t right, and immediately returned, looked at her, and said, “throw some clothes on, let’s go.” and rushed her to the nearest hospital. “If we don’t like what they say, I will drive you to Salt Lake.”
After arriving at the hospital, questions were asked, blood pressure was taken, trying to figure out what was going on. The doctor came in, and Christy noted not falling down or anything, and she thought something was wrong with her neck, and she had limited arm range. “Why do you think it’s your neck?” Christy started mumbling. He asked her to stop talking, this is not your neck. This is your brain. He called in a radiologist, Christy was transported to the radiology department, and a CT scan was done.
The symptoms were visibly and vocally worse. Christy started losing sight of day/night, where she was, and she didn’t know what was happening. The doctor was called, given the CT scan results, and Life Flight was quickly arranged to take her to the University of Utah.
Twenty to thirty minutes after arrival time, Chris and their daughters were informed to say their goodbyes because they didn’t think she would make it, and she was as good as gone. If Chris wasn’t called, if he had driven her to SLC or if she had laid back down, she would not be here today.
The seriousness of the diagnosis led to immediate surgery that took about 5 to 7 hours, opening her skull to remove the blood rupture and make the necessary repairs. She would spend the next 31 days in the Neural Critical Care Care Unit (NCCU) closely being monitored for obvious brain activity, survival, and hopefully a slow but arduous recovery.
- Brain aneurysms are most prevalent in people ages 35 to 60. Most aneurysms develop after the age of 40.
- Women are more likely than men to have a brain aneurysm (3:2 ratio).
- Women, particularly those over the age of 55, have a higher risk of brain aneurysm rupture than men (about 1.5 times the risk).
- Women are also more prone to developing aneurysms than men, particularly after menopause.
- Christy falls into each of these bullet points above. She survived, she is one of a few who have.
Our Sanctuary
Chris reflected back on all the visitors and how they impacted this experience for him and for Christy. Traumatic events regarding acquaintances and loved ones can bring others back into your life when sharing similar experiences. Day 14 brought a visitor, a long lost cousin, who had lost his wife to an aneurysm, rekindling a brief connection, only to be severed as he lost his life in a motorcycle accident.
With Chris by her side day and night, all reality blends together. And he was uber aware of all the monitors, machines, and everything else hooked up to Christy to keep her alive. When the blood pressure dips below normal, you react, you call friends who are nurses and feel better when she shares the reason for this low reading; to keep the pressure low as they can due to brain surgery with stitches and clips.
Chris felt better knowing this bit of information. One of the many things that caused him to pause and question to make sure nothing was amiss or dismissed in Christy’s healing.
Chris struggled leaving his wife’s side. Lack of sleep and a shower was mandatory. After 9 days, one of their daughters convinced him to go home, clean up, and try to sleep. Rest was quickly abandoned as Chris felt the need to go back to the hospital for fear of her death and he wasn’t there to help her.
Small Town Feel
Living in Evanston, Wyoming, raising two daughters, owning a business, Chris and Christy embraced the compassion from the outpour of community love and support after finding out about Christy’s serious condition. Many came to check in on her, and sent flowers. You just never know who has your back or who your true friends are until you go through something traumatic and life threatening. The doctors and staff were stellar in their care, and financially, there could have been ruin, bills for eternity. Overwhelming as you are fighting for your life, and yet, worrying about paying for it all. “We will worry about that after Christy pulls out of this and starts healing. You can’t put a price on a life, and this is living proof.”
Nine of ten patients don’t make it out of the NCCU.
Raspberry Jam
Raspberry Jam – maybe I was dreaming? Did it really happen? My daughter and her wife usually bought a flat of raspberries to make jam, and always times the production before their nephew (who loves raspberry jam) leaves to go back home to ND. Christy gets on her phone, searches Paradise Raspberries, orders the raspberries, has no way to pay for them (cuz she is in a hospital bed with no money), and sets up delivery to be paid by her daughter, Angel. This whole event… never happened. Chris jokes, “the one day and only day I sleep in and you are ordering sh*t online!”
No Mother, I am not ready to leave yet!
One night Chris was sitting by Christy’s bedside watching her. All of the sudden, she sat straight up in bed (which she rarely did) and started talking plain as day. “Mother, I don’t want to go with you yet. Go away. I want to see Deegan (her grandson) graduate high school.” “And I need to be here for my girls to do things, go away, go away.” Chris stood up and said something to her, and she laid back down, closing her eyes. After a frantic call button, the nurse came in, woke her up, and asked if she was OK? She babbled and then went back to sleep. “This is a good sign,” she says. Her mind is getting reconnected in bits and pieces. A few days later, she started to use her voice, each day, getting stronger in her delivery.
Basil Spasms
Christy’s days and nights were still mixed up, she didn’t know how long she had been in the hospital or what had happened to put her there. Her eyes were vacant without any connection to her body and her mind. Basil spasms had started with her bolting upright in bed. Nurses would come in and grab all things around her and strap them to the bed and then leave the room.
Then she is down and gone again. Chris thought she was dying, and put a phone call into their daughters. Basil spasms indicate brain activity happening. Medications were administered to calm the brain to alleviate the brain constriction. This was explained that when your brain is waiting for blood, it tries to save itself by constricting, holding onto the old blood; the blood leaking in the brain before the surgery.
The family came in anticipation of her passing, something is going to happen. The next day, she woke up, looked around, and started babbling. Where am I? You are in the hospital, nurses came in, did blood work, checked her eyes, etc., and communicated that it is a good sign. She is communicating.
These spasms lasted for seven days multiple times a day. Then they just stopped. She started talking normally.
Another therapy step… recognizing people, family, friends.
Steve, our neighbor, walked in one day, and Christy pipes up, “Oh that’s my neighbor Steve.” Chris was advised, If she starts asking about others, get her in contact with them as soon as you can to trigger and connect her brain with her thoughts and the person. One day, Christy says, “You know what Chris?” I wonder what Debbie Lidstrom is doing? She lives in Cody, Wyoming. Chris tried to find her son, Cody, and her Mom. Finally, I asked our daughter Brenda to reach out on FB Messenger to share that her Mom has had a brain aneurysm, is in the hospital, and we are working on therapy to stimulate her brain and memory.
Debbie called the hospital room, and talked to Christy (Debbie used to work at Christy’s hair salon over 10 years ago.) A conversation of catch up with Christy speaking clearly and knowing who she was talking to. Chris ended up finding everyone Christy brought up in conversation and connected them to support this healing therapy.
Ok, now I want to get out of this bed, and… walk.
The basil spasms were gone, and she was informed that she had to wait because normally people don’t walk after a brain injury. They have to learn to walk again. “I can walk,” she says, starting to slip her legs out of the bed. She was so sure she could walk, but was informed that you have to wait for the nurses, physical therapy, etc.
After the go ahead, two young 20 year olds come in. “Ok, Christy, we are going to release you from all your attachments and see if you can stand up, and we will go from there.” A wheelchair is ready if needed. Her legs slide off the bed and she stands right up. The two young gals look at each other in amazement. “All right, be careful. Just stand there for a minute.” Forward and back three feet to start. The Murphy strap is on, and off they go, down the hall with a rolling IV stand . Back they come, and say, “Well, you don’t need therapy today Christy.” Back into bed she goes, and from then on, her walking and progression exceeded expectations.
I scream for ice cream!
Christy has never liked ice cream. And she was starting to get her appetite back and asked for ice cream. The nurses oblige with the tiny cups covered with a paper lid. She asked for sherbert, and Chris is asking, who are you, and you never eat ice cream or sherbert?
It’s the Simple Things
The simple things like having a shower, going to the bathroom, putting on some nice pajamas, maybe some makeup for the day, were rare blessings to make you feel and look good and somewhat normal. Christy is, what’s the word, immaculate in her presentation to the outside world. As a retired beautician for many years, her hair styles changed with the times, and were always an asset to her beautiful big blue eyes and strong facial features. She didn’t go anywhere without her eyelashes, makeup and lip. Her clothes matched her style, and her short frame always had height with some cute heel of sorts.
Since half her head was shaven, this was a hard one to accept. Cassie, her favorite nurse, suggested wearing a stylin headband that a girl made who worked at the hospital. “I will bring them all in and you can pick what you want.” She put one on, Chris complimented her, and this made her feel really good. So Chris bought them all, because when she gets home, she is gonna need one for every outfit!
Let’s Eat!
The hospital chef made a special stop in her room offering up a meal of steak and lobster to be shared by her and Chris. His waiter persona and attentiveness brought affectionate smiles and a really great meal!
One day, Christy was craving pizza. So Natalie, (her daughter-in-law) brought a pizza pie and salad from a really good place, and they all headed up to the rooftop and ate lunch. This was her first time outside in days. Some vitamin D always does the body and the mind some good, yes?
The goodies kept coming, and there was a necessity to share because you can’t eat all those crumble cookies!
I want to go home.
The basil spasms were gone, she was transferred out of NCCU into another room, and she was anxious and upset. Thirty-one days in the hospital, and she wanted to go home. Christy used to share with the nurses, all I want to do is go shopping, go to my house and lay down on my lawn. Chris has a picture of her doing just that with no hair in her pajamas on a hot, sunny August 26th day in 2020.
Once home, Chris had to monitor her blood pressure and her blood sugar. She slept a lot, and this monitoring was necessary to avoid too much blood being pumped into her head all at once. Her systems were still working toward regulating themselves.
- Nine out of 10 people don’t ever walk.
- They can’t talk.
Her doctor noted that he has had two brain aneurysm patients and in his 20 years of practice, Christy is one that talks and walks out of this place. Her doctor asked them to sign some documents so they could use Christy’s chart to show others the miraculous recovery regime she was administered and followed.
By this time Christy had started speech and vocational therapy plus movement for motor skills.
Celebrate!
Her 3 month checkup consisted of a blood test, a CT Scan to make sure everything was where it belongs, and progress toward healing was advancing. Her doctor was amazed at her progress and asked for a big favor. Of course, Chris and Christy said yes without hesitation.
He asked them to go see the staff, doctors and nurses who had cared for Christy to show them her recovery thus far as there are far and few between those that do survive and are walking and talking to prove it.
Christy had one of the biggest brain bleeds the doctor had ever encountered. It was an emotional reunion with tears and hugs. “You are a miracle.”
“Medical astrology is a branch of astrology that associates parts of the body (as well as diseases and treatments) with the nature of the sun, planets, and the 12 astrological signs. With ancient roots in India, China, Egypt, Greece and medieval Europe, the art of linking the cosmos with the human body—and the medicines and plants that treat it – is at least 5,000 years old.” (Source: spiritualityhealth.com)
Disclaimer: Astrology readings do not compromise, replace and should not be interpreted as medical, psychiatric, psychological, or any other kind of professional advice on any health-related subject matter. If you desire said advice, please consult a medical professional.
Christy is a Scorpio Sun, Gemini Moon, and Aries Rising. With a general focus on these “Big 3”, her Sun in Scorpio has intensity, passion, and a strong-will; her Moon in Gemini desires communication, has nervous energy, and is curious; and her Aries Rising is determined, short-tempered, and impulsive.
These placements, along with other natal planets, houses, and aspects tell the story of Christy; who she is, why she is; giving her a blueprint of survival, and a will to live.
Our planets transit or move around the sky and our natal charts everyday, some at a faster pace than others, and when they aspect our natal planets, particular energies can be felt or experienced. And on the day that Christy had her aneurysm, we can see correlations of transit planets aspecting natal planets that could support this medical emergency.
- Her Chiron (wounded warrior) and Mars (malefic energy, fire) are transiting Aries which rules the skull and face, and health problems could be headaches, migraines, conditions requiring surgery.
- Her North Node (Increase and growth, excesses, strengthening, and miraculous healing) is in exact conjunction (blended, acting together) with her Moon (general significator of the body) in Gemini (brain, nerve fibers, sensory nerves.)
- A transit stellium, Saturn, Pluto, Jupiter (when 3 or more planets are within 10 degrees of each other) are in Capricorn in the 10th house. Saturn (a recurrence of a chronic ailment slowing down the process of repair and healing. A potential condition, the aneurysm is made to manifest for the first time.) Pluto (bring to the surface that which was previously hidden and needs to be expelled, physically & psychologically.) Jupiter (enlargements, blood bleeds? Causing problems by pressing on bordering structures, restricting blood supply and function interference.)
- Transit Jupiter (see transit info above) is also square (stimulating action, tension) her natal Jupiter (cerebrum, arterial blood flow) in Libra (homeostatic systems in our body) in the 6th house (main house of health.)
- Her stellium transit (Saturn, Pluto, Jupiter, see transit energies above) square Rising in Aries. Our rising is always in the 1st house, one of the 4 houses of health, representing the “self” and the physical body. Aries is a fire sign, ruling the head, eyes, and sympathetic nervous system.)
- Transit Neptune (subtle undermining and weakening) in Pisces (pineal gland?) in the 12th house (hospitals) square (tension, stimulate action) Moon (general significator of the body) in Gemini (Brain, Nerve Fibers & Sensory Nerves.)
- Transit Uranus (great disrupter) in Taurus (cerebellum and parts of the brain stem) square (tension, stimulate action) natal Uranus (disruption of rhythms and functions. spasmodic) in Leo (fire sign, heat, eye and vision problems.)
In looking at these important transits on the day she was rushed to the hospital, and quickly diagnosed with a brain aneurysm, we can see various energetic similarities of planet transits, and aspects, potentially contributing to her life threatening experience.
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