On May 5, 2026, I received one of the scariest phone calls of my life: I was told I had suffered a stroke. Looking back, I can see with absolute clarity how God's hand was on me every single step of the way.
It all started during a trip to Atlanta when I bumped my head on a roller coaster. At a routine doctor's appointment the following Monday, I casually mentioned the hit. My doctor ordered a CT scan just to be safe. While the scan showed no brain bleed, it revealed a partially empty sella, prompting an MRI for further inspection.
On May 5th, the results came in: a chronic right thalamic lacunar infarction.
What followed was a whirlwind of medical care 18 vials of blood, an echocardiogram, an MRA, a bubble study, and visits with specialists in rheumatology, ophthalmology, and neurology. Through it all, the results were astonishing. I have no blood clotting disorders, a healthy heart, and no plaque buildup in my arteries. The "silent stroke" left me with only one symptom: hyperreflexia.
After about 26 doctor appointments and a lifetime medication plan, I am filled with overwhelming gratitude rather than fear. Hitting my head on that roller coaster wasn't a random accident; it was the precise moment that led doctors to find what was hidden.
I thank God for that roller coaster ride. Without it, who knows what might have happened? I am a walking miracle, and I know without a doubt that God has held me safely in His hands the entire time.