An Australian woman who suffered a burst artery in her brain as she sat on the toilet at work has opened up about her long road to recovery.
Leola Rose, 28, was at work and had no symptoms anything was wrong, when she took a bathroom break.
‘It was a Friday,’ Leola told 9Honey. ‘I went to the bathroom, doing my business, and then I fell off the toilet onto the floor.’
Leola Rose (pictured) suffered a burst artery in her brain as she sat on the toilet at work
‘It was like ‘bang’ and then my vision went blurry, I couldn’t hear and then I fell off the toilet,’ she said
‘It was like ‘bang’ and then my vision went blurry, I couldn’t hear and then I fell off the toilet.
‘Someone saw me. They climbed over the toilet door and found me on the floor and called in someone who just happened to be a registered nurse.’
Although Leola didn’t know it at the time, an artery in her brain had burst – after being rushed to hospital in Sydney she fell into a state of unconsciousness.
Surgery followed, but complications means that surgeons were forced to remove part of her skull and clip the artery to stop the bleeding.
Although Leola didn’t know it at the time, an artery in her brain had burst – after being rushed to hospital in Sydney she fell into a state of unconsciousness
The young woman, battled back from the brink to survive – although she had forgotten how to walk and talk
It was a risky procedure and Leona’s family and friends were told to say goodbye.
However, the young woman, battled back from the brink to survive – although she had forgotten how to walk and talk.
‘That was devastating to me. I couldn’t understand how I could not walk but when I went to learn how to walk with my physiotherapist, the fact that I didn’t know how to do it was so weird, I can’t explain how weird it is,’ Leola told 9Honey.
‘Learning how to walk again in your late 20s is not something that happens often and not something you think would be difficult (since you’ve been walking your whole life already!)’ Leola wrote in a candid Facebook post on her struggle.
‘Over the last few years I’ve learnt a lot about myself. About my limits, what I am capable of and what I can overcome,’ she said. (She is pictured with her partner)
‘Learning to walk again was one of the biggest physical challenges I had to overcome. Even being wheeled around in a wheelchair was difficult for me.’
Whilst she slowly recovered over a period of seven years, it has not been easy.
‘Over the last few years I’ve learnt a lot about myself. About my limits, what I am capable of and what I can overcome,’ Leola – who is now a motivational speaker – wrote on her website.
‘I have since survived serious brain injury, I have lost my job, been unemployed for over 6 months, started my own business, and have purchased my third home in Sydney.
Leola credited the power of positive thinking for enabling her to battle back from the brink of death
‘All of this would not be possible without the power of positive thinking. I know you’ve heard it before – trust me so have I.
‘Pre-aneurysm I was always so skeptical and negative about life. You go about your day, you’re handed what you get and tomorrow comes.
‘If I can give you one piece of advice it would be to DO IT NOW.
‘Use the fine china, wear the pretty dress, show off the expensive jewellery. None of this “I’ll wait for a special occasion”.
‘If I can give you one piece of advice it would be to DO IT NOW. Use the fine china, wear the pretty dress, show off the expensive jewellery. None of this “I’ll wait for a special occasion”,’ Leola said
‘Enjoy it now! It’s funny how life throws you a curve ball. It’s all about how you react to it – how will this moment define you?
‘Your self-worth is the only worth you should be measured on. Believe that you have the power to change your fate – whatever it may be.
‘Yes I’ve had it rough, but everything happens for a reason. After suffering a ruptured aneurysm and ultimately surviving it – I am in the best place I have ever been.
‘So I thank my lucky stars I was able to go through such hardship to only come out on top.
‘I thank my lucky stars I was able to go through such hardship to only come out on top,’ she said
‘Remember you can achieve anything you want to. Even after a close call with death, I’ve never been so close to complete happiness,’ Leola said
‘Since my aneurysm I have been left single sided deaf, I stutter and slur when I’m nervous or tired, I have no equilibrium and often stumble.
‘My short term memory is bad, my emotions are still a ticking time bomb but I am still alive.
‘Remember you can achieve anything you want to. Even after a close call with death, I’ve never been so close to complete happiness.’
Leola is sharing her story to raise awareness of Brain Injury Awareness Week which runs 21-27 August.