Samantha Whiting

It was 0750hrs on 25th April 2014, my husband had just left to take our 13yr old daughter to school, then he was heading out for the day to work. I was left at home with my 7yr old daughter getting her ready for school and myself ready for work. Had finished cleaning the kitchen after cooking scrambelled egg for breakfast. What happened next changed my life forever. It is still a blur and I cant remember much. What I do remember was the pain in my head was excruciating never experiencing anything like it before. I remember sitting in the frontroom and calling my daughter, grabbing hold of her and telling her, she has to call 999 for an ambulance and to call Daddy to come home, she asked me if I felt unwell, then i remember saying yes really ill. I remember holding her tight, saying those few words and that was it. We live in a rural area with hardly no signal only at the window sill in my dining room. Four weeks later coming round in the Neuro ward and being told of my 7 year old daughter saving my life, she managed to call my husband back and when he got back home she was on the phone to the ambulance service who had said to my husband not to worry as the ambulance was on the way and that my daughter had been very brave. she was amazing, she was my guardian angel that day, as without her i wouldnt be here today. When the ambulance arrived they rushed me to Exeter A&E and sedated me before blue lighting me to Plymouth Dereford. During my stay in ICU i had 4 brain operations, my anuerysm was coiled and a VP shunt was fitted. I suffered a massive bleed and only now have recently discovered the severity of my haemorrhage was a stage 10, which still to this day shocks and scares me. I still suffer with headaches, fatigue and have trouble sleeping. I find it difficult in social environments and loud noises as my hearing has become more acute and sensitive. im still not back at work but am contemplating in returning next month as I feel the longer i live it the harder it will become. I feel very lucky and grateful to have another chance, although sometimes I feel 'why me' there was no reason for it to happen in the first place. I dont want to sound selfish because I know i'm very lucky and I was called their miracle in hospital. It does seem unfair sometimes. This is part of my story, I hope I haven't bored you too much. Looking forward to meeting some of you on here. kind regards Sammy