Writing is a great outlet for me to explore matters of the heart. I am a freelance writer with an English degree from Western Washington University. I am blessed with a husband of 26 years, and a son who is in college. Our daughter, Kayln, passed away on March 13, 2015, and losing her has changed me in ways I am still discovering.

For several years, Kayln fought an unknown, mysterious assailant that stole her health. She fought bravely, dealing with an overwhelming amount of pain and physical problems that most people thankfully never have to experience.  She went to at least 16 different doctors and specialists, yet her condition remained undiscovered.

Only when we were called to the hospital on that night two years ago did we find out she had an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), a tangle of abnormal arteries, in her brain. When her AVM ruptured, she lost consciousness and never woke up.  A Brain AVM is very rare, found in less than 1% of the population. The neurologist explained that surgery was not possible, but even if it were, this type of brain surgery carries high risk of severe complications, such as stokes and paralysis.

We had never heard of an AVM, but it suddenly revealed an answer for the baffling symptoms she had been experiencing. Yet it was too late to save her. I am compelled to tell Kayln’s story because I want to honor her life and because her story needs to be told.  She touched many lives in her twenty years, through her compassionate heart and through her words.  Come along with me as I seek to find meaning and hope through this journey of loss.

~Tricia Osterholm