Levaquin and The Girl Who Would Make History

Once upon a time there was a young girl... everyone who knew her said she would do something amazing one day. Many wished her to be a Lawyer, some a Surgeon... She wanted to be a Veterinarian. She was an all-star in softball and volleyball. Her mother's angel and her grandpa's biggest competitor in debate. She kept the paper mill in business having a forest worth of honor roll certificates, Straight A report cards and science projects. Not only was she all of these things but she was kind, giving and a listener to all. She once saved an army of ants from a terrifying fate with ant spray. There was no living and breathing creature that didn't deserve a shot at life or a helping hand in her mind.

She gave her heart away at 16 and vowed her love and loyalty to that man. She awaited the day she would be 18 and they could begin their life of love and happiness. She knew with all of her heart she could juggle a softball career, college, friends, and a happy home with him. She could handle anything. Many road bumps challenged her road to Making History but she tackled them head on and showed no fear.

One road bump was more of a blessing, she fell in love with the two cutest babies the world has ever seen... her little sister and brother. Watching them grow became something like seeing angels heal the sick... it was amazing to her and she just couldn't pull herself away from her little darlings. For this reason college would have to wait even though she graduated from the world of high school a year early.

Finally at 19 she started college. Pursued a double degree, Played many sports, was rushing for a sorority and making new friends rapidly. College was an adjustment, she missed her darlings and her Love. Overall she was well on her way to being that something great that everyone told her she would be... she felt she owed it to them to be.

Then came the day that she never knew her life had been counting down to all along. It was her second round of finals, she was looking forward to spring break and seeing the little ones. She was sick and had been for a while, this wasn't her first kidney infection. She knew all to well how quickly it could spread and thought she had time to finish her finals and deal with it over the break. She was wrong. It had spread to her blood she could feel it, she was so sick that Her Love had come home from working on the road to care for her. She knew that if she didn't deal with it soon she would end up in the hospital or worse. They headed to the Urgent Care center, he held her up as she couldn't walk on her own. They waited patiently for about two hours. She had a nervous feeling the whole wait. A nurse called her name and he gently wrapped his arm around her waist and hoisted her up.

The dr. entered and confirmed, the testing had told that she was in bad shape. She explained that she has multiple allergies to many meds and that she needs "this" medicine. She had had many of these infections and knew which one worked for her. The dr. said plainly and impatiently "We are going to pull out the Big Guns. Here is a script for Levaquin" She explained that she didn't know what that was and NEEDS the one she asked for. "Well I'm the DR. and your not, here is what I'm giving you. Take it or leave it." He handed the paper to Her Love and they made their way to the pharmacy. The entire time they were waiting on the script to be filled she paced in her mind and couldn't shake that feeling in her stomach. "Don't take it!!!!!" something inside her screamed. They paid $105 for only seven pills.

She took them. She could feel the infections pull lifting away from her like fog from a mountain top. As that fog was lifting a sort of storm was brewing deep. She began to feel something she was not used to...Pain...Weakness...and fear.

Back home and still taking the pills she went to her Dr. While in the waiting room she read the pamphlet that comes with every prescription. As she sifted through the many many side effects listed, she recognized many of them as those that she was feeling. This made so much clear to her and that clarity frightened her. She was reading the words irreversible and damage... she couldn't take in a full breath when the nurse called her name.

Sitting in the room alone she doubled and tripled back over the symptoms list, reading those words irreversible...damage....irreversible....damage....irreversible....damage

Snapped back to reality by the calling of her name she looked up to see a friendly and familiar face. "Hello Doc"

She explained what all had happened and what she was feeling. The Docs face went pale and she swore she saw flashes of anger flushing the doc's face. She wore a blank expression as the doc explained this pill is not allowed to be prescribed to children under 18 and shouldn't be on the market at all... that it was poison and she had never met a person that had recovered from its permanent and life altering effects. She said with every ounce of sympathy, that she was sorry... to attempt to "flush my system" by drinking a lot and DO NOT TAKE ANOTHER PILL. The words flashed through her mind again as she made her way to her truck. ....Sorry...permanent...irreversible.....damage...over and over they flashed. The cell phone in her pocket rang and she knew it was Him... he was away again on the road and was nervous and worried. How could she tell him that their life... their future was forever ruined.

Hitting the button that would send him to voicemail she sat there in her truck for an hour after exiting the office, she cried, she screamed, she kicked and all the while attempted to keep her eyes open... not wanting to see those words anymore.

Only one month into her 20th year of life she was poisoned, her body forever changed, forever weakened, forever pained. Her first reaction was denial as it usually is with these sorts of things. Registering for a full 18 credits and 5 sports she began spring term.

She made it only 2 weeks... she limped her way across the campus, cringed her way through tennis and crawled her way through the parking garage and home to her bed where she laid crying, throbbing and horrified at just how much a body can hurt. Her dog lay by her side, looking deep into her tear filled eyes in an attempt to sooth her to sleep. The pain was too much, the weakness too intense. Doing her best to hide how bad it was, she told her family and Love that she was leaving school because she missed them too much and could not continue... they let her believe that they bought this excuse.

It has been three years since I was poisoned by Levaquin. I still cannot play softball this thought will brings tears to my eyes and despair to my heart each time i let myself think it. On my rebellious days I try and will spend a week in bed unable to walk, paying penance for my crime. Often when walking from A to B my leg muscle will give out and I will stumble or fall. My body is nothing more then a big bruise sensitive to the touch. My joints are that of an 80 year old arthritic man. My tendons haunt me with every step, knowing that they can rupture at any moment. My eyes once 20/20 are now a blur. My memory a dense fog. There are times when speaking that I hang on a word and will be unable to speak clearly. The list goes on and often times I wonder how can I? How does a person that is damaged at 20 go on from there? How can I, the little girl who was destined for great things overcome... not outside obstacles but internal chaos? Is this who I will be for the duration of my life? Someone who lays low and watches everyone else live... to avoid pain.

On the bright side I have become so strong and have built up a very high level of tolerance. I know that my pain and weakness has not gotten much better, if at all but my mind and my heart has grown and strengthened so that i can manage it. I also have been able to look back and discover that i have always had a knack that was overshadowed by my outgoing and active lifestyle. I love to write. I love to create. So I start this blog off with my story... well a part of it.

My writing debut to the world. This is what is left of me. My mind, heart and imagination, I will have to make good use of it, if i am to make history with it. I owe it to so many to be the "something great" they urged me to be. They gave me their belief and devotion and I shall spend the rest of my life attempting to repay them with that something they bought stake in... something amazing. I pray each night for two things... that my only tool... writing will be enough. That I will make history... be amazing and not disappoint them. Secondly that I can find a way to save as many lives as possible from the life I have. If you have read this blog in its entirety and are at this point then please answer my prayers and never take a Flouroquinolone. There are safer antibiotics. Trust yourself and never a Doctor.

I Love You Keesha and I Dedicate This My First Blog To You, You Are My Rock, You Kept Me Alive, I Miss You and Thank You!

Thanks For Sticking Around :)

Swiss Miss 22