By Kristie Lau
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A 29-year-old woman who suffered from an unexpected brain bleed six years ago has written a book about the severe physiological impact it has had on her self image.
Louise Krug, who was left with a crossed eye, partially-paralysed face and dragging foot after the incident, has penned the new book Louise: Amended.
It is a story that explores how a dramatic change in the Kansas teacher's physical appearance sparked her positive new outlook on life.
Beauty: Louise Krug, a 29-year-old author and teacher pictured above, suffered from a shock brain bleed six years ago. It has led to an improvement to her self image. She has written a book about the ordeal
Mrs Krug, who is now married to Nick Krug with whom they share six-month-old Olive, had been pursuing a career as a celebrity and lifestyle journalist when the life-altering incident occurred.
The brain bleed, sparked by a burst blood vessel, caused her to faint at a Santa Barbara Film Festival premiere she had attended with Claude, her boyfriend at the time.
Mrs Krug visited the emergency room later that evening after the severe numbness, which made her right foot lag behind her as she walked, headaches, double vision and vertigo she could not shake off suggested something serious had happened.
A doctor later told her that a cavernous angioma, which is a malformed blood vessel, in her brain had burst and bled out.
Career woman: She had been chasing a career as a celebrity and lifestyle journalist when the incident occured
Despite various surgical attempts to straighten a wandering left eye and restore movement to the left side of her face, she is unable to move any of it at all.
As she is unable to blink or close her left eye, her eyelid was sewn partially shut in order to keep the cornea damp. A pair of specially-made sunglasses have been altered for Mrs Krug and she wears them to help correct her double vision.
Even still, she has shown an optimistic attitude since the incident. It tends to surprise many people who learn of her experiences.
Bliss: She is now married to Nick Krug and the couple share a six-month old daughter named Olive
New life: The new mother has said she still has 'the feeling of beauty' and that it nothing to do with perfection
Mrs Krug admitted, however, that she could not help but feel utterly helpless at the time.
She told the Huffington Post: 'In an instant, my looks were gone. I couldn't help but wonder who I was.'
Remembering: She has penned a book about her experiences (above) titled Louise: Amended
Claude, her ex-boyfriend who had been living with Mrs Krug in Los Angeles at the time of the incident, dumped her after telling her that her mouth felt 'strange to kiss.'
His hopes of getting her 'back to normal in no time' were also left unanswered.
Six years on, Mrs Krug has developed a tough fighting spirit as she grows more and more comfortable with her appearance.
She said: 'If I hear that beauty is only skin-deep one more time, especially from an attractive person, I might lose it.
'I still have the feeling of beauty. The feeling of beauty has nothing to do with perfection. It is about self-respect. It is about caring for oneself.
'Being careless never felt right.'
She began writing her book, which is 192-pages long, three years ago as part of her thesis for a master's degree in fine arts.
One section of the book reads: 'I will not be talked into smiling for pictures - the asymmetr y is too awful. The only way I tolerate being in a photo is wearing my sunglasses, staring expressionlessly at the camera, my mouth a straight line, waiting for it all to be over.'
While it may sound like an extremely sad account, Mrs Krug said this passage is not intended to reflect the seemingly negative way in which she views her face. It is simply an indication of her self acceptance.
'I lay it all out there,' she said.
'I include a lot of potentially embarrassing stuff about myself and I don't cast myself in the most flattering light, so I hope people don't misunderstand what I'm trying to say.'
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I think she still looks very pretty.
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I had a Subarachnoid Haemorrhage in July last year. I now have 2 birthdays. One is my regular birthday and the other will be the day my life was saved at Salford Royal Hospital. THANK YOU! My memory has been ravaged and I find the simplest things difficult these days. I sometimes have to make threats to myself to get out of bed. I know 2 other people who this has happened to and they (along with my family and friends) are a huge source of inspiration. THANK YOU. I can relate so much to this article and it saddens me to think how, in an instant, a life can change. My partner is a constant source of strength and, without the fortress he's created, I don't know where I'd be now. Me and my 3 chunks of brain metal are still fighting and, we'll win! I wish you and your family will Louise x
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big mouth, Sugar Town - Perhaps it should be renamed the Daily Male
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Most of the articles in the DM showbiz and femail sections are about women's physical appearance . Too fat, thin, wrong clothes, bad surgery etc. On an article about Nell Mc Andrews' great achievement at the London marathon , most commenters mentioned her looks and / or weight. How far have we slid since the emancipation of women? Is is this newspaper or are women really only considered of worth if they look a certain way? It's still a mans world. I hope the DM prints more articles about women like this one, who are truly inspiring.
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Good on you Tamara. Your beauty is shining through. The world needs more like you. May you go from strenght to strength and let your light shine.
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I relate to this story, because I've had a brain bleed too. My face fortunately isn't paralysed, "only" my left arm and leg are a work in progress. I do have a dent on the right side of my head because of life saving surgery. Before my brain exploded I was also known as the pretty blond. (as she says in the Huffington Post). Because I feel ugly now I'm hiding most of the time inside my house. I'm waiting for the plastic surgeon to fix my dent. I'm lucky I have a wonderful boyfriend who takes care of me and doesn't mind I'm not the hot blond in stiletto's in a tight dress anymore. But I also see an upside to what has happened to me. I used to focus only on my looks, hardly ate and over-exercised to fit the smallest size possible. Now I enjoy 3 meals a day and finally start to focus on what I want, not what's most interesting according to other people. Sometimes I'm just happy this happened to me, because otherwise I would have continued down my self destructive path for years
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I'm sure Louise realizes she dodged a major bullet with that first boyfriend. Wow - what a loser he was! So glad she's found true happiness and fulfillment. Beautiful woman.
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A troll is someone who skims articles just to make nasty comments....and if you disagree then you just air your opinion and move on. It is never necessary to be leave vile, disgusting comments about someone who is a brave individual to discuss her imperfections and insights. Shame on anyone who would insult and degrade someone as beautiful as Mrs. Krug....Jean please seek some counseling and quit hiding behind your computer spewing filth.
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Louise, I admire your intelligence and determination to live life your way. And I ADORE your baby!!!
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Yes I agree, what an inspiring story and most of the comments are good to read too. I had skin cancer and the surgery took away some lip. The doctor never told me and kept messing me about. I felt disfigured but decided to just get on with it as beauty comes from the inside. My confidence is returning and I think I made the right choice 3 years ago. This story has just melted my heart, thank you. It's good to know that other's think the same.
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