Be Brave for Life Foundation
Be Brave for Life Foundation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mission
    • Impact
    • Riley’s Story
    • Leadership and Volunteers
    • 2025 Sponsors
    • Newsroom
    • Contact Us
  • Issues
    • Need to Address Research
    • Cerebral Cavernous Malformation
  • How do we help?
    • Awareness and Research
    • Collaborations
    • Youth Advocacy
  • Blog
  • Take Action
    • 5th Annual Kickball Tournament at AppleJack Field
    • Start a Bravery Fund
    • Create Your Own Fundraiser
    • Fundraising Campaigns…
    • Matching Gifts and Ways to Give
    • Become a Sponsor
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • Apply for a Grant

Patti’s Story

posted on September 13, 2020
Cavernous Malformation ● Stories of Bravery
read more

I too am a cavernous malformation survivor. I was 43 years old, on New Years Eve 2007. I started the day feeling sick and dizzy. By that afternoon I could not stand, talk, walk or visually focus on anything. I had severe headaches for several years but I attributed them to my hectic work schedule and being a mother of twin 6 year olds. But this time it was different. It wasn’t just a headache; I felt like I was dying and couldn’t talk to explain myself. Once at the hospital the MRI clearly showed bleeding in my brain so I was rushed into ICU. I can’t remember too much after that, but do have “blips” of memories. I was transferred to one of the bigger hospitals in Houston a few days after that where specialists finally determined the best course of action, which was surgery. My husband was given the news along with all the possible outcomes. A few weeks later I woke up, having just had surgery. I felt as if I was a computer that had just been rebooted; Slow, but finally awake! Over the next year, I had to relearn how to talk, walk, write, feed and care for myself. The first time I walked I felt as if the floor was loaded on springs and I was trying not to fall off. This eventually got better. My eyes could not focus on anything and I felt like they were bouncing in all different directions every time I tried to focus or look at someone. The hospital would put my food in front of me, but I couldn’t use the fork. I was scared, confused and worried about what was ahead of me. I tried to research the diagnosis of “cavernous malformation” but there wasn’t much about it. So instead I just pushed forward and prayed I would get better and that this would not happen to me again. So today I am a different “me” than I was in 2007. Some dizziness and lethargy seem to be my daily struggles, but other than that I have very few issues and I thank God every day for the second chance I was given at life. Here are a few pictures of me, the first is 2 weeks before my surgery, then 2 weeks after my surgery.
Laura Callen

Click here to cancel reply.

Leave a Comment

Donate

Together we can continue to improve outcomes for individuals faced with a brain tumor diagnosis. Your support helps us create brighter futures for patients and families.

Give Today!

Be Brave for Life Foundation

Our Mission is to inform, support and improve the lives of individuals affected by benign brain tumors and cerebrovascular disease and drive research for a cure.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Issues
  • How do we help?
  • Blog
  • Take Action
Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Join our newsletter and we'll keep you in the loop about all of our latest news and ways to get involved.

"*" indicates required fields

© 2025 Be Brave for Life Foundation | Nonprofit Website by Wired Impact

  • Facebook
  • Instagram