Just a short 10 months later, Stevie suffered a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. In fact, she coded 3 times during her time in ICU & there were questions of whether or not she would suffer permanent damage if she even lived. If you read the odds of survival you'll understand the grim prognosis the doctor's gave to her family (at one time they gave her only a 10% chance). Against all those grim odds, she survived.
The only visual evidence of these events are some tiny scars on her arm where they placed needles for an arterial blood gas and some scar tissue in her nostrils from the long term placement of tubes. On the inside however she still has tiny clots in her lungs that appear on xray and she did unfortunately suffer some permanent damage to one side of her heart.
The day that I did these photos, Stevie & I had a "lady date" & went to lunch together for the first time in seven years! There were some tears while we talked about what she's been through but there was a lot of laughter, too. After a mild depression during the earliest part of her recovery, she has joined a support group with other people who have suffered from pulmonary embolisms. I know that all the love and support she has received from her family and friends means the world to her but I'm happy that she has people to reach out to that know exactly what she's been through. I loved hearing her talk about the future. This was an event that changed her life & will continue to shape her life forever but she still has the same positive outlook as she was when I met her in middle school. She's considering a career path involving possibly speaking about her condition to raise awareness.
No matter what she decides, I am so incredibly proud of her & so proud to call her a life long friend - I can't wait to see all the amazing things her future holds.
Stevie, let's not wait another seven years for the next "lady date"!
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