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eme_braelyn

@eme_braelyn

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Hey y’all! It’s been a while since I’ve posted due to my health declining even more. I plan to get caught up on posting pictures and content once I have the ability to do so, but for now, I’m going to update on my current situation regarding my neurological issues.

These pictures show a small glimpse of what my life has been like the last several months. My neurological issues have gotten progressively worse, and I am currently admitted awaiting surgery as an emergent case. I’ve needed this surgery for so long, but my life threatening GI issues put a hold on that.

Words can’t express how truly horrific things have been for me, but a small summary of my symptoms are: extreme neck and spinal pain, shooting pains down my spine/arms/legs, pain at the base of my skull, extreme eye pressure when exposed to light, horrible visual issues, frequent choking, numbness and tingling in my hands/feet/legs, severe walking/balance problems, and so much more. We also recently learned that my skull is now pushed forward, causing my brainstem compression to be even worse. This level of suffering is truly inhumane, and no one should have to get to this point.

Today, (or tomorrow if it’s cancelled again),I will be undergoing an occipital cervical fusion. We are praying that this gives me much needed relief, and that eventually I won’t be bedbound or suffering this much anymore. Will update on surgery when I can 🤍

Dr Patel has been so helpful this time around, and helped me find a surgeon willing to operate on me🤍

Momma Molly came down with mom and I to pre-op yesterday, and comforted me when we found out that surgery was canceled❤️‍🩹 @nomanualforthis

And I can’t forget to say that @victoria.daylor was here with me before going down to pre-op. So incredibly thankful for the amazing people I have in my life 🥹

I’ve been working so hard in PT even though it’s extremely challenging and painful. Thanks to my wonderful PT Kyle, my arms and legs are now stronger going into this surgery🫶🏻 by @eme_braelyn

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25 days ago

Rest in peace, my sweet friend Grace🤍 Although I didn’t get the opportunity to get to know her as well as I would’ve liked to, I’m SO thankful for all the times we did get to chat back and forth this year 🥹

@grace.moseleyy was going through the unimaginable herself, but still took the time to spread love and genuine kindness to me and many others. The texts that I’ve included on this picture are just small examples of how good of a person she truly was! I know you’re finally healed and pain free after fighting for so long, with our Lord and savior now❤️‍🩹 You will forever be loved and missed, and I promise that I will keep fighting for you, and for all the other girls we’ve lost to these cruel conditions 💔 by @eme_braelyn

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4 months ago

Hey everyone! I plan to post an update about how things have been after surgery soon- but I’m coming on here to ask for prayers for one of my best friends that is currently battling sepsis in the hospital.

@gabbys.guts has been here for me throughout so many hard obstacles, even though she’s dealing with very similar things! I was lucky enough to meet her when she came to VA for her appointment 🥹 Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she recovers from sepsis and also for her big surgery coming up soon 💗 Love you Gabby! by @eme_braelyn

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5 months ago

My first time fully sitting up for a bit without almost fainting🫶🏻 Truly so so grateful to have such amazing care here! I’m still in icu but I’m moving to another floor tomorrow! My pain is still absolutely horrific and I still can’t walk, but I’m tolerating half of my goal rate with feeds and am no longer dying🥹(my surgeons words as well). I’m still in bad shape but am finally on my way to life 2.0 🥳

I will be forever thankful for Dr Fowlkes for saving my life🥹💗

• also wanted to add that I may look a little better color wise, but im still SUPER sick and will be down for a while until I’ve healed for a bit and can get help with my other issues. This infection & wound vac has seriously been the biggest challenge and set back ever, and the changes are so painful and traumatic 😩 Still so thankful (and honestly in disbelief), for my progress despite everything else bad! by @eme_braelyn

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6 months ago

Sepsis:1 - Eme:0

This past week has been an absolute nightmare due to getting sepsis again, but this time from my GI tract. by @eme_braelyn

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8 months ago

I never imagined I’d have to say this, but here we are.

Cyberbullying is wrong. Period. What hurts the most is that it came from a community I truly believed was about support, advocacy, and lifting one another up not tearing people down for sport. Watching people pile on, twist words, and fuel hate is honestly disgusting.

Sharing private conversations without consent, especially with someone you believed was a safe, encouraging friend is a betrayal.

For clarity: I never said I was in organ failure. What I said was that if my doctors cannot figure out how to help me, I could be facing organ failure. My liver and kidneys have already taken a hit, and that reality is scary enough without misinformation being spread.

I’ve always loved encouraging others, showing up for people, and advocating, especially for those who feel unseen. But it only takes a few deeply unhappy people to try to tear someone down and drown out the good.

Right now, I am very sick. My mental and physical well-being have to come first. Added stress is not just harmful, it’s dangerous for me.

Because of that, I’ve decided to remove followers (no hard feelings) and make my page private for a while as I focus on fighting to get better. This isn’t punishment. It’s protection.

If you’d like to stay in touch during this time, please let me know, I truly appreciate the people who have shown kindness and genuine support.

Also added this picture of my momma and I because believe it or not, people are saying ugly things about her too. She is the BEST momma, person, and caregiver.

Please do better, people. by @eme_braelyn

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8 months ago

Thought I’d hop on this trend 😞 by @eme_braelyn

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8 months ago

Hey everyone! Just wanted to give a brief update without going into full details. I was admitted Monday and will be here until I’m stable enough to go home. Dr B who’s in this picture, is the most amazing GI surgeon that genuinely cares about me so much, and that has been taking over my care since March. She is truly a blessing from God, and I probably wouldn’t be here without her.

I’m still rapidly losing weight and weighed in at 100 pounds yesterday, which is super bad for my height (5’11). In a few hours I will go under anesthesia to get a new line, and to replace both of my tubes. Procedures are so incredibly painful and difficult for me, so I’m nervous and could use prayers💗 Will post more once I’m able to! Malnutrition needs to be talked about more. by @eme_braelyn

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10 months ago

1 year ago today, I had my surgical tube placed. This brings up a lot of emotions because that was one of my hardest admissions. My doctors let me starve for a year+ before they decided to help. The month before my tube placement my heart rate was dropping in the 30s and lower, even while standing up. It is NEVER ok to let someone get to that point before choosing to help them. After my placement I found out that I was given the tube only because of my weight, not that I was believed- my GI doctor at the time wrote in my chart that I had an eating disorder, without me knowing.
After surgery, I had little pain control because they ‘didn’t understand my pain’ and said that I was way too complicated for them. Instead of trying to understand my pain, they let me suffer. My eyes were really opened then and I knew that I needed to travel elsewhere if I wanted help. That first placement was excruciating- and since then I’ve had 6 more tracts made which is insane.

It’s also extremely hard to see how much worse I’ve gotten since. I often wonder what my outcome would be like if I would’ve gotten help the first time smas showed up in 2023. I’m not going into full detail about my current situation (plan wise), but I will say that I’m the most malnourished I’ve EVER been. I’m still vomiting frequently and have extreme nausea 24/7, and no one can tell me why. I’m running my feeds at the highest they’ve ever been, (even though it’s still a low rate), but I’m trying everything I can to maintain my weight. Unfortunately I’ve lost 20 pounds since my gallbladder surgery and I’m about to be under 100 pounds at 5’11. To say I’m incredibly upset and frustrated is an understatement- I’m devastated. I was told that my organs will start struggling big time if my doctors don’t do something soon- so I’ll be admitted soon. My wonderful GI surgeon is coming up with a plan along with another doctor that I recently got in with- I’m just not sharing full details about that yet. Please refrain from asking any questions, as this is an incredibly difficult time for me and my family. by @eme_braelyn

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10 months ago

Words will never be able to express how thankful I am for my Momma!🥹 Truly wouldn’t be here without her🩷 by @eme_braelyn

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10 months ago

Next year better be nicer to me 😭 by @eme_braelyn

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a year ago

Re-learning how to walk has been one of this hardest parts of this recovery💔. This is definitely better than a few days ago, but I’m still extremely weak and don’t have much control over my legs. This has happened a couple times since I lost function of my legs after tethered cord surgery, but this time around was really concerning.

I feel very discouraged because my body is in rough shape, but it wasn’t ready for another surgery. The plan is to discharge tomorrow and to work on slowly healing❤️‍🩹. by @eme_braelyn

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a year ago