A Very Special Family Birthday
@DeborahDiane (40852)
Laguna Woods, California
March 30, 2017 10:16pm CST
Many of you who have known me the past few years on this and other writing sites will remember that almost three years ago one of our daughters collapsed with a ruptured brain aneurysm. Miraculously, she survived the surgery to repair the aneurysm, as well as a second brain surgery a few months later. Only a very small percentage of people survive a brain aneurysm without serious health consequences.
At the time of the aneurysm, she had just started dating a retired paramedic who recognized that she was having a seizure, picked her up, put her in his truck and rushed her to the hospital which was only a short distance from his home. He knew exactly what to tell the people in the emergency room to get her the help she needed quickly.
Last year, our daughter married the paramedic who saved her life.
This weekend, we are all are celebrating her birthday in the Napa Valley, where they live.
My husband and I will be going up there. We feel our family has been truly blessed to still have her with us and we are fortunate to be celebrating another birthday with her.
I am not taking my computer with me, so I will not be on MyLot very much, except for occasionally responding on my cell phone, especially when I'm sitting at the airport. 
I'll be in touch with all of you again next week!
I'll be in touch with all of you again next week!21 people like this
22 responses
@Marilynda1225 (91197)
• United States
31 Mar 17
You have a lot to celebrate. Happy Birthday to your daughter and have a great trip
4 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
Thanks! We are really grateful that she survived to have another birthday!
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
31 Mar 17
a very meaningful celebration indeed. happy birthday to your daughter. i would love to see pictures of the napa valley.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@hereandthere - I will get some pictures of the Napa Valley and post them when I get back!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502886)
• Italy
1 Apr 17
@DeborahDiane Sometimes it's a matter of a few minutes, only if you are with someone who knows what to do your life can be saved.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Apr 17
@LadyDuck - You are so right. Our lives can be changed, or ended, in a moment.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@LadyDuck - You are so right that we were lucky she was with someone who knew what to do. It was truly a miracle. We are going to have a lot of fun celebrating on Saturday.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54741)
• United States
8 Apr 17
She is a miracle. I am happy for you and your family that your daughter survived this. In 2009 my baby sister went through the same thing. She was 30. Hers was discovered before it burst.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54741)
• United States
9 Apr 17
@DeborahDiane her vision got blurry and our eye doctor discovered that it was around her optic nerve.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 Apr 17
@Tampa_girl7 - Wow! She was so lucky. When our daughter's aneurysm ruptured, she had no idea she had a problem. Suddenly, she started throwing up, had a seizure and told the man she was with that she couldn't see anything. He looked at her, and her eyes were wide open. He was a retired paramedic, recognized the signs, and got her to the hospital within 20 minutes. He almost certainly saved her life. Two years later, the two of them got married. They've been married about a year. Your sister is soooo lucky that her aneurysm never ruptured.
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 Apr 17
@Tampa_girl7 - Oh my goodness. I am so glad that your sister's aneurysm was discovered before it burst. She was very lucky.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
31 Mar 17
It is wonderful that she survived that incident. Happy Birthday to her and have a joyous trip and a safe one.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@JamesHxstatic - We are so grateful she survived. Her health still worries us, so we are especially happy to be celebrating with her.
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Apr 17
@DianneN - Between having one daughter visit us with her family for almost two weeks, followed by our trip to the Napa Valley, we were feeling a bit crazed, too. Finally, things are settling down for a while!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Apr 17
@DianneN - It was a fun weekend. We were very happy to be able to spend the time with her and the rest of her family.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
4 Apr 17
@DeborahDiane Super. I see that you are home. Lol! I'm so crazed that I can't think straight!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169590)
• United States
1 Apr 17
It's a wonderful reason to celebrate. Enjoy.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@GardenGerty - I agree that we have a great reason to celebrate. We are so blessed to have her with us.
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
1 Apr 17
Happy birthday to your daughter. Have a great trip and am so glad he was there to save her life.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@Fishmomma - I agree that we were lucky he was there. It was such a scary event in the lives of everyone in our family.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
12 Apr 17
Such a touching story. It brought tears to my eyes. Bless your family and I am so glad you will enjoy the time with them all on this celebration!
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
19 Apr 17
@DeborahDiane I am glad it was a good celebration.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Apr 17
@Shellyann36 - We are very fortunate that our daughter survived to celebrate this birthday.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
31 Mar 17
What a wonderful miracle and a very happy ending. Enjoy your visit.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@BelleStarr - Miracle is a wonderful way to describe the fact that she survived. Our family is still lucky to have her with us.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (40061)
• Toccoa, Georgia
19 Apr 17
That is a miracle, happy birthday to her!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
20 Apr 17
@LeaPea2417 - Thank you! We certainly feel that it is a miracle that she survived!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Apr 17
It sounds as if your friend was very fortunate, too, just to survive, let alone be doing so well. I pray he continues to heal.
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@paigea - Yes, we were blessed. It is like a happy-ever-after story, isn't it? 
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@Happy2BeMe - Thank you. I know she is grateful to be alive.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19701)
• India
31 Mar 17
@DeborahDiane This is really a happy Occasion.Happy birthday to your daughter.Enjoy your trip.I know the picture is from morgue file.But the photo is so beautiful.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@silvermist - I love that picture, too. I use it sometimes on Facebook to wish people Happy Birthday.
@1creekgirl (44560)
• United States
31 Mar 17
Oh, what a wonderful story of God's love and protection! I'm so happy for your family to be able to celebrate together. Enjoy them and tell us all about it when you return.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@1creekgirl - Yes, God truly blessed us when he let her live. We were so lucky!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@sallypup - It is a romantic story, isn't it? We are so lucky she is still alive.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@just4him - You are so right that having her with us is a precious gift. We are very lucky!
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@JudyEv - We have always viewed it as a miracle, too. We were so lucky!
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
31 Mar 17
Wish her a very happy birthday and a great family gathering.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40852)
• Laguna Woods, California
1 Apr 17
@responsiveme - We are really looking forward to the family time.
1 person likes this
