My temperature came down and I was sent home. I was not talking right, was unsteady on my feet, walked into walls as I had no judge of things and felt extreme weekness, severe nausea and a headache which caused my eyes to water uncontrolled, a severe sensitive to light and noise. My neighbor and mother and daughter were left to deal with me. At that time I started with seizures and I almost bite my tongue off. The Internist explained again he did not know what to do except medicate me with seizure med's. until I could hardly function. My mother ,best friend and daughter were my nurses. I kept going to the local ER until I finally got help from a G. P. who knew me before. He was a god send (I am not religious). That I was talking like I was, as week as I was, and again as fevered as I was, he knew there was something severely wrong. I had a cat scan which showed double pneumonia, severe sinus infection and some brain swelling. He wanted to hospitalize me. I was put in the hospital for 24 hour observation.

I again only know what I have in notes from my friend. I was put in a room and they shut the door at night. My neighbor stayed for hours. I woke up and the sun was up, a note on my shirt from my neighbor saying she had to go sleep and what time she left and $20 in case I needed it. No one checked me for 4 hours. I decided I was safer at home and my mom could take care of me better. I rang a bell and the nurse came I told her that I was safer at home and was going home. She called me silly and I lost my cool. I pulled out the I.V. the blood flew which I stopped as I knew how to stop it. I signed a paper and went home. I slept I was told 32 hours when I got home.

I suffered many months with severe health problems some of which I am now only aware of as I have notes and journals that I have found in my house. I argued with the internist and insisted on some help or a referral to a dr in another city. A Year later, I had an MRI which showed I still had a swollen right side of my brain. I knew I was having problems but I could not get any firm answers why. I asked to be tested for West Nile and was told it was impossible and they were not doing that. I got a new G. P., I was told that was impossible to do in this town. He has helped but had unfortunately has not much to go on as my medical file was destroyed in a fire. It is hard to get information on my condition with no past history just my say so and what paper work and prescription bottles I have found in my house. The Doctor said he cannot just believe my mother and me, he needs paper to work with. I am building a new file and retrieving what tests I can.

In 2003 my new G. P. refereed me to an epilepsy specialist who confirmed I do not have seizures, that I have a brain injury. The specialist only told me a suspicion of E but would not put the pen to the paper. He said to keep a Neurologist that I trust to help me with the other problems. I am now able to function as I no longer take epilepsy med's. which shut me down. I have retired my nursing staff which includes my mother, my neighbor and my now 10 year old daughter who is in counseling to help her become a child again. I believe, has suffered as much as I. I am going to make it up to her. She recently told her best friend that her mom is not sick any more. I am so pleased to hear such wonderful words as the counseling is giving back to her something I had no right to impose on her. I may someday be able to help her as she has and still helps me. I am crying as I right this.