Writing has always been my passion. I enjoy a variety of genres, especially magical realism, poetry, children’s literature, and songwriting. The Fish Dress (2020) was my first published novel. While focusing on marketing, I also worked on two additional manuscripts.
The next several months passed quickly with media events, conferences, and quiet moments sitting by the office window, lost in my thoughts and daydreams. Sometimes my sister would join me, and we would talk about The Fish Dress and its future as we approached its one-year anniversary.
Suddenly, I felt my left hand turn numb, and the numbness traveled up my arm. It was an odd sensation—one I couldn’t shake. I was able to function until I tried to speak. My thoughts made no sense, and my speech was garbled. Confusion set in, and my sister called 9-1-1.
When I woke, I knew by the chemical smells and loud speakers that I was in a hospital.
My head was wrapped in gauze, and all I could think of was a mummy wrapped in a shroud, awaiting the afterlife. The attending physician removed the head wrap. I couldn’t wait to open my eyes.
What I saw was darkness—and I cried.
The doctors speculated that I would likely see light soon. They were right. Several days later, the shadows disappeared, revealing light. We talked about the four main lobes of the brain, which control different parts of the body. They told me I had a brain bleed. The occipital and frontal lobes were the two areas that suffered significant damage. These lobes are responsible for visual processing, recognizing faces and colors, problem solving, memory, language, and social behavior.
The neurologist explained the clinical term for this type of brain bleed: Amyloid Angiopathy, a condition where plaque is found in the brain’s blood vessels. As a result, my recovery has been challenging.
Following my release from the hospital, I attended outpatient, part-time instruction to address my disabilities. Two years later, I was dismissed from the program because they were unsure how to help me make the gains needed. I had become an enigma to the educators. I still could not identify letters, words, or colors, nor many other skills I had mastered prior to my brain bleeds.
My world fell apart when I arrived home; I felt myself shrinking into nothingness. My vision was fading, and all I had were memories. I felt like I was losing my mind. Nothing made sense.
My dream of writing more books vanished.
No vision, no reading, no help, and no clear path to recovery or healing.
Part Two of “THE DAY MY WORLD CHANGED“ Coming Soon…
This post was originally featured in Carol’s February 2026 Newsletter. If you would like to subscribe to her newsletter, click here.