Health problems are an inevitable part of everyone’s life, and it is the responsibility of doctors to accurately identify and quickly address them. However, there are unfortunate cases where health care providers fail to determine the underlying causes of a person’s discomfort, leading to more serious problems.
Chandler Plante, who was just 21 years old at the time, contracted COVID-19 in December 2021. Fortunately, her symptoms during the initial infection were relatively mild and she recovered within a week. Little did she know that her real fight was about to begin.
About three months after recovering from COVID-19, Chandler began experiencing an unusual sensation — numbness in her hands and forearms. Concerned about these symptoms, she decided to seek medical attention and visited the emergency room. However, what happened during her visit left her confused and depressed. He recalls, “I was told to move on, so I left.”
Unfortunately, as time went on, Chandler’s problems only intensified, casting a shadow of uncertainty and fear over her life.
However, the episodes persisted and on June 28th a brain scan revealed symptoms I had mistaken for panic attacks were actually significant ischemic strokes. My arteries were so small (they should be 4mm but mine were as small as 0.5mm) because I had so much inflammation in my head, she said.
When a blood clot prevents oxygen and blood from reaching the brain, it causes an ischemic stroke, which is often fatal.
To prevent future strokes, Plante was forced to undergo treatment in which coronary stents were inserted to widen the arteries in her brain. In October 2021, she had additional stents implanted in her. She was prescribed aspirin and started steroid therapy at the same time. This stopped the pulls, but was not a permanent solution.
Her stents moved to the back of her eye just a month later. Her optic nerve was “clogged” with stents and she was blind in that eye. The causes were a mystery to doctors who were baffled. They speculated it might be a brain tumor but all my scans were clear.
It’s quite strange, she reminded herself.
The doctors ran a series of tests in an attempt to find out what was causing all the problems and suffering this young woman was going through, but they were still unsure of the possible causes.
On December 6, she underwent keyhole craniotomy surgery on her brain and was scheduled for a lumbar puncture later that month.
Plante was eventually given the immunosuppressive medication methotrexate and began a 10-day course of radiation therapy in November 2021.
I suffered from terrible migraines and facial nerve irritation from my anti-seizure meds and every treatment made me feel terrible. It was excruciatingly painful, she noted.
She eventually received treatment that helped her improve in April 2023. She was first given rituximab, a chemotherapy drug, which gave her “some semblance of a normal life”.
“I honestly feel like my treatment is helping me for the first time. It’s fantastic because I’ve never experienced such minor side effects. I’m on methotrexate, another chemotherapy drug, along with rituximab. My hair is thinning and falling out a bit.” , but I counteract this with folic acid. I’m very used to her at this point.
With the goal of inspiring people and showing them that they should never give up, even when their world seems to be falling apart, Plante is now sharing her experiences.
“My side is about dealing with an absurd situation, as well as healing and positivity. A lot of people think positive people are just naturally that way, but I think I had to work at it. I’ve had enough pain.”
“Some days the jokes I told the nurses and the baristas at Starbucks were the best part of my day because everything else was so terrible. It was a defense tactic because I needed that optimism to get me out of a very bad place. It made me feel like she could heal in the truest way possible, she claimed.
In addition, Chandler has found a supportive community among fellow citizens with disabilities. She admits: “I made many friends in the disability community. During a time when I seriously doubted whether I wanted to continue, I was deeply touched by the kindness and humanity of the people around me. You have to look at the light side; it’s the only side you have .”
Despite the lack of an official diagnosis for her health problems, Chandler chooses to remain optimistic and hopeful for the future. Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, the power of positivity and the resilience of those who refuse to give up even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Chandler’s journey is a reminder that even though life can throw us incomprehensible trials, it is our unwavering determination and our ability to find hope in the midst of adversity that ultimately defines our path to recovery and healing.