I underwent comprehensive testing to determine what caused the accident. My wonderful doctor in the ED could see my fear and made a joke about how it was good the tree did not fall because the city charges a hefty fee for that. That was the first time I smiled or laughed.
While I was in the Emergency, I also learned that I had immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a rare autoimmune disorder that causes one to have low platelet levels. Platelets help the blood to clot. The ED doctor was so compassionate when he explained the disorder to me, but my main concern was not knowing whether my platelets were high enough to consider surgery if I had a brain tumor or another terrible disease. Fortunately, that was not the case. I was eventually diagnosed with epilepsy.
As I couldn’t walk, drive or do household tasks after the accident, I started intensive physical therapy for two years. Some days I was encouraged by my progress but other times, I felt discouraged by setbacks. I recall looking up at the stairs in my home thinking it looked like Mount Everest. However, I “stayed the course” and I can now walk, drive, and do household tasks.
Still, recovery is a long and winding road. In September 2023, I was feeling “off” and went to my family doctor, who ordered bloodwork. With some concerning findings from the bloodwork results, I was in a potentially dangerous situation. My doctor advised me to go to the Emergency, so I ended up back at Charlotte & Lewis Steinberg Emergency at NYGH.
