ROCKPORT — Complications from a brain aneurysm requiring immediate medical attention have forced Ann-Patrice Hickey to withdraw her candidacy for selectman.
Hickey, who first suffered the cerebral aneurysm last year, will return to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center next Wednesday to have a small medal scaffold, or stent, inserted into her blood vessel along with platinum coils to help strengthen the vessel and prevent further problems.
The procedure, while said to have a 95 percent chance of solving the problem forever, will require Hickey to spend at least one night in Boston hospital's intensive care unit followed by days of bed rest and weeks of low stress activity.
"That's the impact on the campaign," said the 54-year-old Eden Road resident yesterday. "They suggest I stay relatively calm for a month after the procedure and it would be hard to stay calm. I guess it wasn't meant to be this time, there's always next year."
Hickey carries a doctorate degree in psychology and neuroscience, giving her an edge in understanding what is happening in her head. She is a former Finance Committee member who joined the race to fill one of Rockport's two open selectmen's seats in large part because she wanted to give something back to the town. Last month, while announcing her intent to run, Hickey credited the town's Ambulance Department for saving her life last year.
The Ambulance Department and EMTs arrived at Hickey's house June 21 of last year less than five minutes after she suffered the cerebral aneurysm, a weak spot in a blood vessel in the brain that balloons out and fills with blood.
Ironically, it's complications from the aneurysm which now prevents her from running for one of two seats soon to be vacated by Selectman Chairman Joseph Lisi and selectwoman Roxanne Tieri.
Three candidates remain in the race including, Christopher Lewis, Conservation Commission member Andrew Heinze and Ellen Canavan.
This isn't the first complication for Hickey; last October, the self-employed computer programmer needed surgery to implant more platinum coils, which allows blood to coagulate, or clot, around them and act as a stopper. At the time, her doctors believed it would be enough to stop the aneurysm but now only five months later, it has expanded again, forcing a third surgery.
"It was a bit of a surprise," said Hickey. "They have me check in every three months and I've been fine, so I didn't expect anything this last time."
Hickey, running on a platform of encouraging creative thinking to solve the town's budgetary woes, said tourism is Rockport's main industry and believes officials need to encourage more web-based technologies to promote the town rather than focusing mainly on the town's infrastructure. Tourism is dependent upon disposable income, she said, which is partly why Rockport is having a hard time right now.
Hickey also said she would like to see money earned by the town from the sale of the Haven Avenue lots to go toward the purchase of other watershed or open space land — a cause championed by Lewis.
Selectmen voted to create an Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee at their last meeting and will officially appoint at least seven members April 1.
Hickey, currently staying at a friend's home in Rockport while her kitchen is renovated, said she would definitely consider running again and for now, anyway, has chosen not to endorse another candidate.
"Each of the people have said something I like," she said,"but I haven't gotten to know any other candidate well enough to endorse someone."
Town election is set for Tuesday, May 6.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
