"Let us reach out to others and feel the bliss of giving for love is far richer in action than it ever is in words."                                          -Flavia Weedn

To make a donation by mail, please send an email to: jake@lovejunkies.org


On May 20th, 2007, Brooke was admitted to the California Pacific Medical Center for a ruptured cerebral aneurysmDuring a cerebral angiography neuroradiologists discovered a second aneurysm and were unsuccessful in their attempts to coil them off. Brooke was having vasospasms so performing neurosurgery was postponed.

On May 22nd, 2007, Brooke then developed a cerebral ischemia requiring her to undergo an emergency angioplasty. The angioplasty was successful but there was some temporary paralysis on her left side.

On May 24th, 2007, one of the two aneurysms began to hemorrhage and she was rushed into an emergency neurosurgery. Brooke's neurosurgery lasted fifteen hours and she was immediately placed under a medically-induced phenobarbitol coma. (This was a very deep sedation in order to achieve total rest for her vascular tissues.) She was also placed on a ventilator. She was kept in this unresponsive state for 7+ days.
During her 15 hour surgery they found and removed a tumor behind her left eye. It was found to be benign.

On June 1st, 2007, they began to ease up on her meds and to bring Brooke out of her coma.
Brooke has a long and difficult road ahead of her.
At this point we are still waiting to see which of the physical effects will be short-term and which, if any, will be long-term.
The portion of her skull removed for brain surgery is still unattached, waiting for the vasospasms that are still occurring to calm down, and for brain swelling to subside, before reattachment. She is still pretty well swollen and bruised throughout her head and face.

After 4 days awake Brooke was allowed solid food, but experienced a good deal of pain in swallowing, so she was returned to a feeding tube.

Her speech and physical therapies are going along at a slow pace, but going along nonetheless. Brooke is able to slightly move her left foot and her left shoulder, the arm and hand still seem to have some paralysis. She also has a great deal of pain and muscle spasm in her neck and back.

She is still on heavy doses of pain medications. Oxycondon at this point.
She is totally aware of what she has been through.
She has a limited memory of the events before the surgery, but that is slowly coming back.
Her major complaint at this point is pain in her head in general, stating that she has a ‘headache’ or that her ‘bean hurts’. Also pain in her head near her ears, her neck, and the annoyance and discomfort of the feeding tube in her nose.

Mary, Brooke’s mother, is invaluable to Brooke at this point. She has been staying with Brooke 24/7 since May 22nd, 2007.

She is living at the hospital, sleeping in the room, and washing up in the bathroom. She has no intention on leaving her daughter’s side until Brooke is back home in OC. She has had to leave her job to be here.

Brooke supports herself, her mother and her 14 year old son.
In early April of 2007, Brooke was part of an 1,800 person lay-off and her insurance coverage expired on May 31, 2007. This site was designed to raise money to help cover the cost of her COBRA package.

To make a donation by mail, please send an email to: jake@lovejunkies.org

Brooke, and her family are so grateful for all of the love and help they have received. It is also important for all of us to remember that this is just the beginning of Brooke’s recovery period. Please, when you can, return to HYPERLINK "http://www.lovejunkie.com" www.lovejunkies.com and make a donation to help Brooke and Mary ease the transition through this next critical phase. There is also a link to a Cafe Press site with 'Love Junkie' (Brooke’s self-proclaimed title) swag, with all proceeds going to Brooke and family. (It is NOT too early to think stocking stuffers…)

Brooke's message to all of you lovely folks donating is simple:
THANK YOU.
Thank you for everything.