The Girl with Cotton in her Ear

By Makayla Barrios and Writers of the West

This beautiful story is of a remarkable & brave lady, the author, who lived quite a difficult life fighting a medical condition that changed the course of her life. Some may know her as the lady with Cotton in her ear, and while they might or might not have known her story, they certainly did not know about the intensity of her battle with Cholesteatoma from what seems to her like a lifetime ago. At age 19, as of writing her book, she recalls her medical and emotional experiences while having to live them one last time, for one reason and one reason alone: She wanted to help others who go through the same conditions and feel misunderstood. The ones who are diagnosed with something serious and think that somehow, it is all over. They feel alone. Makayla Barrios vows to be the voice that makes a difference for such people, to give them hope, and inspire them to look forward positively, as she is a living example of someone who spent a precious decade of her young life raging war against her medical condition, until eventually defeating it and becoming stronger than she could ever be. This book takes you on an emotional ride where the reader can learn a lot about life, it's unpredictable nature, how to cope with the difficulties that it brings forth, but most importantly, how to keep going forward.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781312417939

Book preview

The Girl with Cotton in Her Ear

Makayla Barrios

All Rights Reserved © 2023 Makayla Barrios

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the author.

Trademarks: This book identifies product names, places and services known to be trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of all products and places referenced in this work of fiction. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Houston, Texas

Published by: Writers of the West (www.writersofthewest.net)

Printed in the United States of America

First Printing – June 2023

Table of Contents

Dedication

Overview

1 Early Life – A Childhood Interrupted

2 The Beginning of My Medical Journey

3 My Surgery Experience

4 Post-Surgery Recovery

5 Follow Up Appointments

6 Facing New Challenges

7 One After the Other

8 Life in the PICU and POD

9 Learning to Live with a PICC Line

10 Reliving My Time at the Hospital

11 Tough Decisions

12 Embracing the Present and Looking Towards the Future

Dedication

To my little Cousin Victor Jr., Thank you for being my biggest supporter and one of the best little cousins ever, I love you!

Overview

I, Makayla Barrios, wish to share with you my personal tale of endurance and willpower in the face of a medical problem that has been a struggle for me ever since I was a child. At the age of seven, I began experiencing symptoms of an ear condition that resulted in leakage from my ear and steadily deteriorated over the course of time, despite the fact that I had many surgeries and was being treated with blood thinners. Throughout the course of my trip, I had to endure a number of operations and hospitalizations, including one for a blood clot that formed on my brain. Despite these challenges, I made the decision not to let my condition define me, and instead, I utilized them as fuel for a voyage of introspection and personal development.

This book offers a one-of-a-kind and personal glimpse at what it was like for me to grow up in and out of hospitals because I'll dive into the feelings and ideas that I documented throughout my hospital visits. I also discuss the difficulties I had and the victories I achieved while I was on the path to recovery. This includes the influence that my ear issue had on my life as well as the struggle I face on a daily basis just trying to hear.

This book is a demonstration of the strength of the human spirit and the resiliency that is there inside each and every one of us. So, over time I did a little research on the Symptoms that I was experiencing to get a better idea of my condition.

Now I have a condition called cholesteatoma. It is an abnormal skin growth disorder that occurs in the middle ear. Cholesteatoma can lead to frequent ear infections that can cause discharge. This fluid has the potential to produce a variety of symptoms, including pain and hearing loss.

Let me tell you; it's been quite a trip for me. My symptoms began with some slight ear ache and an unpleasant sensation in my ear, particularly when I was swimming. The real problem started when the fluid from my ear began to drain, causing a persistent sense of pressure and a terrible stench. After diagnosis, we got to know that I had hearing loss, which was to be treated by surgery.

I was nervous and uncertain of what to anticipate, but at the same time, I was delighted at the prospect of finally having my ear discomfort go away and my hearing return to its regular level. I was in the fifth grade at the time, and I do not recall having a complete grasp of what the term surgery meant. I only wished that everything would turn out OK and that my ear would return to its previous state of perfection.

It wasn't until later that I discovered cholesteatoma is a chronic ailment that may need numerous surgeries to treat. Despite the difficulties, I stayed optimistic and continued to seek medical assistance to control my symptoms.

That brings us to the present with my experience with cholesteatoma. I've come a long way, but now I know how to control my symptoms, and I'm still able to enjoy every day of my life to the fullest. If you or someone you know is having similar symptoms, I urge you to get medical attention. And keep in mind that you are not alone on this road!

1

Early Life – A Childhood Interrupted

Let's take a step inside my world, where the only thing that was ever with me was the sound of silence. A journey that began with an unpleasant smell and the continuous pain of earaches at the start. But I had no idea that this was just the start of an experience that would change the course of my life.  Let's start with my childhood; like any other child, I was born healthy and completely normal; it was as I got older that I developed this medical disorder.

I was born in Houston, Texas, but I grew up in Lufkin, Texas, surrounded by my family and other loved ones. I am the youngest of six children, and despite the fact that some of them are just half-siblings, our family has always been quite close. My parents both worked very hard to care for us and make sure that we had a good life. They owned a recycling company in Lufkin called East Texas Recycling. The majority