Erica’s Story

Site created on March 18, 2018

Thursday March 15, 2018 Joey had emergent brain surgery to stop a bleeding aneurysm.  He was lucky enough to realize that the headache he had was not normal and had a coworker bring him to the hospital.  Timing was on our side as I was home, when I would have normally been teaching, my class was cancelled due to snow.  Joey had a CT where they saw a subarachnoid bleed and he was sent to Massachusetts General Hospital via helicopter.  I met  him at Mass Gen, unfortunately not soon enough to see him before he was wisked away to the O.R.  I did however speak with him on the phone before the surgery.  The surgery lasted 4 and a half hours and was successful.  The aneurysm has been clipped at the base and is no longer bleeding.  Joey is doing well now.  He has a funny haircut and some new head piercings (staples) but otherwise he is the same old Joey.  He is able to talk, walk unassisted and eat hospital food, so we are considering ourselves very, very lucky to have such wonderful hospitals in our back yard.  This next week  he will be watched for seizure and stroke behavior, god willing he will have none.  He is able to receive  visitors and welcomes them.   I will post daily updates on his recovery process.  Keep the healing  vibes and prayers coming.  We thank everyone for the love and support.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Joey Stearns

While Joey continues to physically heal and the all the medical staff that are caring for him are very positive, Joey's spirits are down today.  We have been told that as the blood drains from around his brain he will have pain in his back and legs.   So while his soreness is to be expected he was hoping to continue to astound everyone with this mobility and independence.  Anyone who know Joey knows that he does not want to be a burden and that he does everything in his power to help the nurses.  He even said that he would be willing to deliver get well cards to the other patients on the floor once he is a little less sore.  Hopefully the soreness passes quickly and he gives himself a chance to be taken care of.  He is on face in one of the greatest hospitals in the country after all.
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