My Lightning Experience And Helpfull Links
The above image is courtesy of my Spirit brother, Mike Pendergast, a very talented lightning photographer, and 2x survivor. I do not recomend that anyone attempt to photograph lightning, under any circumstances, but Mike does take precations. Thanks for the image, Mike!!!!! You can see some of his others on his home page, you can find a link below. This page is devoted to my lightning group and my own close encounter with a lightning strike in July of 1999 and again in October of 2000! If you are a lightning survivor, and you feel that you want/need help, there is a link for the survivors group that I have joined, I have found these wonderful people to be a blessing, a source of comfort, and a great resource! Check them out! Contrary to popular belief we are not ALL crispy critters, although that has happened! A bit of cultural background... I follow the ways of the Lakota Sioux, so this comes from that perspective. The Thunderbeings are responsible for storms, and every so often, they single out certain individuals to become Heyoka. They are (to over simplify things,) the sacred clowns who laugh on the outside while crying on the inside. They are the contraries, who sometimes do certain things backwards. To create a heyoka, they will hit their human targets with lightning, or an individual will dream of the Wakinyan as they are called, during a vision quest. I was hit by lightning. I think that I always knew that I was a Heyoka, I do lots of things backwards. I can remember my father telling me (out of exasperation) that I MUST be a Heyoka after watching me do something REALLY bassackwards, LOL! My first strike came down through the roof of the trailer I was living in at the time with my husband and 2 kids. It missed the tree hanging over the trailer, it came down though the wall, into the dryer (I was changing the laundry over at the time, helpful hint, never do your laundry during an electrical storm!),entered my body through my right hand, through me, exiting through my left hand back into the dryer to exit out the dryer vent. It also managed to exit out an outdoor light fixture, and an electrical outlet. There were scorch marks to prove that it really happened. When I got hit, at first I was disorientated and had no clue as to what had REALLY happened to me! I went to the doctor the next day and was told that because I was not burnt, there was not much that they could do for me. I am still finding out what my side effects are, even after one year. I have migraines,where I was not a migraine sufferer before my first strike, my dyslexia is more pronounced, I have spells of (for lack of a better word) "vertigo”, or extreme lighteadedness, and a mild ringing in my ears. I also have a weakness in both wrists, (probably a side effect from the first strike's path) and chronic pain. I get very antsy when there is a storm approaching, even when I do not know that one has been forecast, and have found this to be a very common thread with other survivors. I also have a severe memory impairment. There are days that I am lucky to remember my own name, let alone what I was doing 5 minutes ago, and that is no exaggeration! My kids think it is funny, and while I can laugh about it, it is really very frightening and frustrating. It seems to be mainly my short term recall that is affected, I can remember 15 years ago a lot more clearly, and that is saying something as I am only 32 (10/08/2000)! Please use the link for the lightning strike survivors page to check on other possible symptoms, if you are interested! It gives much more insight in to what we go through on a daily basis. Many people who do not understand, assume that we are either faking or trying for sympathy. Bullsh**. This is very, very real. A note of interest, about 15 months I was hit again in October of 2000 at about 2:30 am, local time. It flashed over the bladder of my water bed, and got me in the process. The strike somehow hit my house, (We bought a 2 story early American/Federal style house in November of 1999,) and went through the electrical systems of the house, leaving all of the appliances and phones intact! My son was sleeping with me, but seems to have suffered no damage, and my daughter later reported that she could feel a current through her metal bed bunk frame ( the kind with the futon on the bottom...) and she too seems to have taken no damage. (We had them checked by a doctor who is familiar with my case.) We are still trying to find out what was done to me, as I seem to have taken the brunt of the shock. It is hard to tell what is from my first hit, and what is from the second. The sad part is that I am a bit of a rarity as there are not many people that get hit in Southeast Iowa, so the doctors are not sure how to treat my syptoms and problems. When I told my husband about the second strike, he did not believe me! My daughter confirmed it later, in a separate conversation, and he STILL did not believe me! Men... On a lighter note, it is fun to watch others move as far away from me as they can durring an electrical storm! My nickname at work is "the human lightning rod", but storms for me are not much fun anymore, and I have a much healthier respect for the power of a storm! I now carry a mild charge, and get zapped every time I use a household appliance! It sure makes fixing a meal interesting!! It is also a lot of "fun" at the restaurant where I work as we have a lot of stainless counters, etc. Update: I have found a local Neurologist who is willing to treat my symptoms, and am now in a management program. Since I am so far post strike from both encounters, there is nothing that can be done for the original injuries, we can only treat the symptoms.I am now taking Ametriptyline for the migraines, and paxil for the mood swings, time release B12, a good multi B, a good Multi vitamin, potassium, and vitamin C. I do not recomend these as a treatment for everyone, this is what works for me. I will never be what I was before I was hit, and I can live with that. I have also learned that this has happened to me for a reason, and that I do not need others to belive in order to validate what happened to me. I know that it happened, and that is enough for me. A note of irony, Mike Pendergast, (my spirit brother), how is also a very talented photographer, was hit for the second time about the same time as I was, and is slowly recovering from multiple burns and other effects. I feel for you, Mike! Be sure to visit Mike's home page using the link provided, you will be glad that you did! Please come back to see how I and other survivors are faring! Remember, we are not alone....Mitakuye Oyasin My email address has changed, it is now spottedeaglehorse2@home.com Thanks! Helpfull Links My Links Page Lightning Strike survivor and LS&ESSI (Lightning Strike & Electrical Shock Survivors The Martin County Florida Sky Warn Home Page, Good Lightning Information Here! Sam Silver Hawk Lightning Strike Survivor's Resource Web Page My Spirit Brother Mike's Home Page My Other Lightning Home Page
The above image is courtesy of my Spirit brother, Mike Pendergast, a very talented lightning photographer, and 2x survivor.
I do not recomend that anyone attempt to photograph lightning, under any circumstances, but Mike does take precations.
Thanks for the image, Mike!!!!!
You can see some of his others on his home page, you can find a link below.
This page is devoted to my lightning group and my own close encounter with a lightning strike in July of 1999 and again in October of 2000!
If you are a lightning survivor, and you feel that you want/need help, there is a link for the survivors group that I have joined, I have found these wonderful people to be a blessing, a source of comfort, and a great resource! Check them out!
Contrary to popular belief we are not ALL crispy critters, although that has happened!
A bit of cultural background...
I follow the ways of the Lakota Sioux, so this comes from that perspective.
The Thunderbeings are responsible for storms, and every so often, they single out certain individuals to become Heyoka.
They are (to over simplify things,) the sacred clowns who laugh on the outside while crying on the inside. They are the contraries, who sometimes do certain things backwards.
To create a heyoka, they will hit their human targets with lightning, or an individual will dream of the Wakinyan as they are called, during a vision quest.
I was hit by lightning.
I think that I always knew that I was a Heyoka, I do lots of things backwards. I can remember my father telling me (out of exasperation) that I MUST be a Heyoka after watching me do something REALLY bassackwards, LOL!
My first strike came down through the roof of the trailer I was living in at the time with my husband and 2 kids.
It missed the tree hanging over the trailer, it came down though the wall, into the dryer (I was changing the laundry over at the time, helpful hint, never do your laundry during an electrical storm!),entered my body through my right hand, through me, exiting through my left hand back into the dryer to exit out the dryer vent. It also managed to exit out an outdoor light fixture, and an electrical outlet.
There were scorch marks to prove that it really happened.
When I got hit, at first I was disorientated and had no clue as to what had REALLY happened to me! I went to the doctor the next day and was told that because I was not burnt, there was not much that they could do for me. I am still finding out what my side effects are, even after one year.
I have migraines,where I was not a migraine sufferer before my first strike, my dyslexia is more pronounced, I have spells of (for lack of a better word) "vertigo”, or extreme lighteadedness, and a mild ringing in my ears.
I also have a weakness in both wrists, (probably a side effect from the first strike's path) and chronic pain.
I get very antsy when there is a storm approaching, even when I do not know that one has been forecast, and have found this to be a very common thread with other survivors.
I also have a severe memory impairment. There are days that I am lucky to remember my own name, let alone what I was doing 5 minutes ago, and that is no exaggeration! My kids think it is funny, and while I can laugh about it, it is really very frightening and frustrating. It seems to be mainly my short term recall that is affected, I can remember 15 years ago a lot more clearly, and that is saying something as I am only 32 (10/08/2000)!
Please use the link for the lightning strike survivors page to check on other possible symptoms, if you are interested! It gives much more insight in to what we go through on a daily basis.
Many people who do not understand, assume that we are either faking or trying for sympathy.
Bullsh**.
This is very, very real.
A note of interest, about 15 months I was hit again in October of 2000 at about 2:30 am, local time. It flashed over the bladder of my water bed, and got me in the process.
The strike somehow hit my house, (We bought a 2 story early American/Federal style house in November of 1999,) and went through the electrical systems of the house, leaving all of the appliances and phones intact!
My son was sleeping with me, but seems to have suffered no damage, and my daughter later reported that she could feel a current through her metal bed bunk frame ( the kind with the futon on the bottom...) and she too seems to have taken no damage. (We had them checked by a doctor who is familiar with my case.)
We are still trying to find out what was done to me, as I seem to have taken the brunt of the shock.
It is hard to tell what is from my first hit, and what is from the second. The sad part is that I am a bit of a rarity as there are not many people that get hit in Southeast Iowa, so the doctors are not sure how to treat my syptoms and problems.
When I told my husband about the second strike, he did not believe me! My daughter confirmed it later, in a separate conversation, and he STILL did not believe me! Men...
On a lighter note, it is fun to watch others move as far away from me as they can durring an electrical storm! My nickname at work is "the human lightning rod", but storms for me are not much fun anymore, and I have a much healthier respect for the power of a storm!
I now carry a mild charge, and get zapped every time I use a household appliance! It sure makes fixing a meal interesting!! It is also a lot of "fun" at the restaurant where I work as we have a lot of stainless counters, etc.
Update:
I have found a local Neurologist who is willing to treat my symptoms, and am now in a management program. Since I am so far post strike from both encounters, there is nothing that can be done for the original injuries, we can only treat the symptoms.
I am now taking Ametriptyline for the migraines, and paxil for the mood swings, time release B12, a good multi B, a good Multi vitamin, potassium, and vitamin C.
I do not recomend these as a treatment for everyone, this is what works for me.
I will never be what I was before I was hit, and I can live with that. I have also learned that this has happened to me for a reason, and that I do not need others to belive in order to validate what happened to me. I know that it happened, and that is enough for me.
A note of irony, Mike Pendergast, (my spirit brother), how is also a very talented photographer, was hit for the second time about the same time as I was, and is slowly recovering from multiple burns and other effects. I feel for you, Mike! Be sure to visit Mike's home page using the link provided, you will be glad that you did!
Please come back to see how I and other survivors are faring!
Remember, we are not alone....Mitakuye Oyasin
My email address has changed, it is now spottedeaglehorse2@home.com Thanks!
Helpfull Links
My Links Page Lightning Strike survivor and LS&ESSI (Lightning Strike & Electrical Shock Survivors The Martin County Florida Sky Warn Home Page, Good Lightning Information Here! Sam Silver Hawk Lightning Strike Survivor's Resource Web Page My Spirit Brother Mike's Home Page My Other Lightning Home Page
