Phil's story

At first the tests kept you busy but the MRI that you needed to assess your condition did not appear to be coming any time soon because there had been a flood in the department.  You were given a long distance code that you could use to call home.  You called me and told me they could not supply you with underwear so I packed your stuff and headed down.  We were anxious to see each other.

My Side

I remember arriving at emerg with my nurse.  One of the nurses on the floor let me use her laptop so I could let you know I arrived; there was no phone I could use.  I remember my nurse eventually leaving to go to her hotel room for the night and that's it; that's all I remember.

First Time Flyer

November 22

From what you said to me your flight was uneventful and even though it was your first time on a plane you slept .  You remembered your nurse "Kim" and that you got to go on a ferry from the airport and by ambulance to the hospital.  You arrived at the hospital with nothing but a hospital gown, your shoes and my socks.

Phil's side Day One:

November 21

At home you were struck suddenly with extreme pain in your head.  You called me asking for help and I had Nick take you to the hospital in a cab.  Doctor R--- saw you and diagnosed you with a migraine and sent you home.  At home you refused to sit and relax because it was Matt's birthday and you started heating up food for him.  We had a birthday dinner with Matt and you were tired but ok.  People left and you decided to head up for bed.  Moments after going up you started to yell and hold your head in pain.  We went back to the ER and we ended up staying there all night for observations.  In the morning Doctor D-- felt you needed a CT scan and also decided on a spinal tap.  The CT showed a possible blood clot so he also did a spinal tap and detected blood in the fluid.  It was then the decision was made to fly you to St. Mike's in Toronto.

The first "migraine" came on slowly then suddenly out of nowhere severe waves of pain, unlike anything I ever experienced before tore through my head.  It sent me to my knees screaming for someone to help me. This occurred while my husband was at work  so my youngest son who  was at home  took me to the hospital where the doctor  that was on call treated me for a migraine and sent me home.  I was home approximately an hour when the next attack hit me.  I was in the bathroom when I started screaming with pain my husband, who had just gotten home ran upstairs to help me back to the ER.  When I arrived they were changing doctors.  I was again treated for a migraine but was not getting better.  I was taken for a ct scan and the radiologist thought I had a blood clot; but he wasn't sure so the doctor decided to do a spinal tap and there was blood in my spinal fluid.  He then called a major hospital in Toronto and they told him I was to be immediately transported by air. to their hospital

As we struggle to make sense of things, life looks on in repose. ~Author Unknown

Hi my name is Darlene McCoy I am not a writer but a woman who suddenly sees herself being forced to change her life and  rethink the path that she was on. At the time of my illness  I was like many women my age; in transition from being a full time mother and wife to watching her children slowly leave home and make lives of their own. It was my time;  and as much as I loved my kids I could finally work on finding something that I would enjoy doing. I needed more meaningful employment.  I wanted to be able to get up in the morning and enjoy going to work again. I was at a point in my life where the children were grown and didn't need me as much anymore so why not go out there and find something that would make me  happy.  Then On the 21th of November, 2011 I suffered a series of cluster migraines which sent me to the ER.  I have started this blog in hopes of helping anyone out there that may have experienced what I have.  I want to make this a place to share and a place to heal.

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