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Life after you or a loved one experiences a brain aneurysm may be different, but sharing your connection can provide hope to many others navigating recovery. We encourage you to share your journey, advice, and any other messages of support below.

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Lisa Foundation

Shared Stories of Brain Aneurysms

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247 entries.
Derryl Derryl from Chaumont, NY wrote on September 22, 2018 at 5:25 pm
My mother was a very active, healthy 78 year old. She rarely had a headache and never complained of any aches or pains. The only medication was an occasional aspirin. She layed down to take a nap, because she said she had a headache. She never woke up. My concern, is this hereditary.
Carol Toto Carol Toto from Hallandale,Florida wrote on September 22, 2018 at 5:09 pm
I lost my beloved father at age 48 from an aneurysm in the circle of willis. Hereditary and deadly. I know firsthand how devastating and underreported it is. I am a nurse and have cared for many patients who were successfully treated for their aneurysm . I underwent an MRA, and my younger sister survived exactly what our father succumbed to. God bless all who are impacted by the devastation of cerebral aneurysms.
Joanne Starnes Joanne Starnes from Farmville wrote on September 22, 2018 at 5:04 pm
On August 16, 2001 my daughter Michelle Marie Lileks, who was 10 and a half years old, died of a brain aneurysm on my couch in her sleep at 9:40 am. 17 years later, I still go through shock of her death.
ramona Tuberman ramona Tuberman from Harbor City wrote on September 22, 2018 at 10:18 am
In April 2010, I woke and drove to work as usual. Had been experiencing neck and shoulder pain as well as Terrible headaches usually early in the a.m. for many months.I also had dull jaw aching on the right side. From time to time above my left ankle I experienced a numb sensation that puzzled me. Never having migraines I attributed it to migraine and even cut my long hair and purchased new pillows thinking this would resolve. Also had periods when standing outside in very warm temps of legs being very weak. My hearing became unbearable during these episodes and a type of roaring sound would drown out t.v. or conversation. I began joking at work pretending to make sign language to my co workers as they were aware my headaches interfered with my hearing. I was in the outer hall talking to a co worker when all of a sudden there was one sharp pain and then as I was trying to speak I was unable to with the feeling all of my air was gone to put out words. I slid down the wall to sit at my co workers encouragement and felt a very warm sensation flow down from my head over my shoulders. Then the lighting began to flicker, but never lost consciousness. Paramedics were called and determined I was fine advising me to see a Dr. later in the day. My sister insisted they take me to the hospital which would be the only reason I am able to write this today. It was determined I had a right posterior communicating artery aneurysm. I spent the next 2 days being transferred to hospitals that kept me stable until I was transferred to a hospital equipped to perform the coil embolization. That evening I was made aware of how serious this was before going into surgery. Up to that point I have bits & pieces of memory on previous days in hospitals. The surgery was performed and I spent the next 15 days in the Ronald Regan ICU. Realizing how fortunate I was to have survived this surgery not to mention the hours after the hemoragic stroke before surgery could be performed. I am one of the few mostly intact survivors of this very deadly condition. No one walks away totally free of any major brain trauma. My after affects are minimal and for the most part I am able to hide these issues from anyone that sees me. I am Truly one of the Very Blessed . I can walk, talk, and think clearly. Headaches "ARE" a symptom to be taken very seriously especially if you have never been prone to having them. The accompanying neck and shoulder pain as well as jaw aching is a definite flag to seek medical attention. These past 8 years have been a gift and I am one of the lucky survivors of this very deadly condition.
Mark Barrie Mark Barrie from Aurora wrote on September 22, 2018 at 9:10 am
I would like to show my appreciation for what this foundation is for. I am from Canada and I hope the work done here will make it to my country. I have a personal interest in this as about ten years ago my best friend died of an aneurysm. I still have not really gotten over the shock of it. I saw him a few days before and he was his normal self. Three days later I heard he died. I was so sad that my friend was gone. I hope the efforts put forth here will save someone else’s best friend or loved ones then. I thank Lisa foundation.
Cynthia Darlene Caylor Cynthia Darlene Caylor from Dalton wrote on September 22, 2018 at 8:45 am
I have 9 brain aneurysms, first one bust ,had to have a vp brain shunt put in, i will be going back to hospital in a few days to have a stent placed in the first aneurysm they ahve all been coiled, except 1 if not for my Lord I would not be here.
Maggie Lambert Maggie Lambert from Ocala wrote on September 22, 2018 at 7:48 am
My name is Maggie my son Robert(Bobby) are suffer from Brain aneurysm is happened on the July 14 2018 that when I took him to the ER they make us wait for almost 5 hours and it progressively to worsened by the hour until at 11 pm he was lost consciousness then there was one doctor that keep slapping him and when they try to scoot him to bed from the wheelchair they hit his head to the wall twice and keep slapped him around try to wake him up even though the urine an blood test was negative they think he was using drug but my son was Autism and mentally delay he don't use drug because he hardly leave the house if he leave the house usually he always with family, I told that to the doctor but she won't listened then there is another doctor pass by then shouting he is seizing then they give him meds and he told them to take him to scanned that save him because as soon as he see they induced the coma and put the breathing tube on him and airlifted him to different hospital that save his life with 5 surgery and 2 procedure on the august 03 2018 the intervention hospital send him back to the original hospital then they proceed to mistreating him first they forgot to feed him through the G-tube continuous feed for 2 days and also they don't have the osmolite to feed him then when I advocate for him they finally doing investigate and apologize and also there were other incident until figure it out which nurse that we need to avoid then they move him to the different floor and we start all over again. I am so scared and upset because we don't have the insurance and we still apply to SSI because he's 19 yo no rehab close to our house will take him and the hospital after struggle to explain is not safe in the house we don't have anyone to watch over him they finally agree to get him stay but they way they treated him is poorly so on Thursday 09/20/2018 when I came in and see him like everyday we come to visit after work 6:30 pm we see him in the state of mess his face full of chocolate because he feeds him self with soft diet his left side on the body was partially paralyze but the feeling slowly back and his left hand is contracted therefore is hard to eat by his self so when we see him thoroughly dirty there was crumb every where I am upset no wonder he been call me and text me all day also I see him where the nurse leave him at the jerry chair alone and I try to call the nurse to ask where his helmet or why the boot fell out and then I explain to the nurse that he is mentally delay so his age is 19 but he act like 8 after the incident so he need to be watch before he almost undue the harness because he think he can walk so when we visit that night we are upset because what happen all day and see him in the state his in make me upset then when I question the tech I was a little bit rude to ask of the gown and clean sheets so I can change but the she was upset then she proceed to lie and told the nursing director that I called her "Bitch" when I am not called her that but I over heard her ask her other college that she scared to get fired so her friend say I will fix this then she call and lie to her director then the director come after I called him to report that but he come charging and told us that we trespassed the hospital and proceed to throw us out without asking about our side then when we were escorted by police who don't even ask our side he just stated he do what the hospital want not what was right my husband at the elevator having a grand Mal attack and having seizure because he is epileptic then I was fainted which I don't remember why so they want to throw us out but the other people told him no they have to treated us first then the nursing director was there and told all the staff at the ER to release us as soon as possible the banned us from visiting our son. In the morning I called the administrator than was aware all our struggle than asked if he can help us and also I want to move my son back to the original floor so after about 2 hours later they call me back then told me the lifted the trespass and I can come but there were a rules to follow only one call in the morning and one at night and we can not harassed the nurse or tech to asked for help if he was wet he have to do it himself and also supervised visit and only 1 at the time but if my daughter with us she can stay at the room with the brother so I just say okay because I want to visit my son and I have nothing to hide which is surprise them because the director seem to be wanting to actually arrest me because if I not complied to the demand and also I told her I want him to be treated fairly and we will not have to asked all the time and I won't them to comply with the order like he need to be turn every 2 hours to avoiding bed sore and also the boots every 2 hours because the foot drop that he have but they haven't do that at all then yesterday when I finally visit I see they put the boot and turn him I told her the nursing director all this could be avoided if they just treated him like a patient and person also they will have to do what best for him just because we are poor and no insurance except the medically needy we will pay what we can to get our son treatment also I told them from the beginning we will do everything to apply to the help out there that will be able to help and this morning I see the show on the fox and friend I decide to share his story. Please help us we don't know what we can do to help him also the agency and support system that will be able to help. thank you
Lynn Lynn from Nixa wrote on September 13, 2018 at 1:11 pm
I just heard about this foundation and am glad to see some light brought to Brain Aneurysms. Forty-two years ago, when I was 10, I lost my Mother (age 45) to this. She was simply laying in bed and was getting ready to get up for the day, and it ruptured. We, of course, didn't know what had occurred until later. Her body held on for a few days, but, once the Aneurysm burst, she was brain dead. About a month prior to her Aneurysm bursting, she fell in the bathtub and sustained a concussion. We always felt like this attributed to the Aneurysm bursting a few weeks later. We were told it was not genetic and she was born with it. I am not sure how true that is.
Geoff Geoff from London, Ontario, Canada wrote on September 12, 2018 at 11:07 am
I was 18, had never had a problem with headaches, and was working a good summer job to pay for university the next year. I was lucky enough to get off work early that day, or I would have been driving on the highway when I had my aneurism. As it was I was home watching tv when the nuclear weapons testing started inside my head. The pain was indescribable. I immediately lost peripheral vision, and could only see grey out the sides of my eyes. I also immediately started vomiting, and was on bile within 5 minutes. The doctors later said has I lost consciousness or had a seizure I would have died alone on the floor. As this was happening I was able to call my mom. When I told her I couldn’t see properly anymore she told me she would call an ambulance. The next thing I remember I was In an ambulance, then I next remember being in hospital emergency room. They thought I was OD’ing on something and just wanted me to puke it out. I told them something was seriously wrong and then puked on the floor, telling them I would continue doing so until I saw a doctor. Next thing I remember I’m in a quiet dark room in a different hospital, it’s now night time, and my parents are in the room. The doctor is looking at my like I’m a science project, and my parents look really really scared. Apparently all the times I blacked out I was actually conscious and just don’t remember it. I was lucky though, Canada has great medicine for free, and my Dr studied under Charles Drake, who apparently invented the clipping process. They ran cat scans and did a cerebral angiogram to find the aneurism, which was a subarachnoid on the carotid artery. They did surgery the next day, and it took just under 14 hrs. I have one still clip in my brain, 4 steel stitches in my skull, and an ENORMOUS scar that took over 100 stitches to close. I was two weeks in hospital recovering and a year before I could swim under water and not feel the pressure pushing in on my skull. All that was 21 yrs ago and I’ve had problems with migraines and been unable to work steadily since.
Carla Carla from Boston wrote on September 9, 2018 at 1:41 pm
The day before I was getting promoted, I was driving home from work. I was 39 and healthy. I had migraines for years, but, declined an MRA because I was too busy and it was just migraines - lots of people had them. I suddenly got a violent headache and a stiff neck. I kept driving. I got home and took an Imitrex. I immediately threw up. I sat up all night in pain, drove my 3 daughters to summer camp, drove myself to an ER. They could barely be bothered with me. They tried to send me home. I refused to go and they did a CT Scan (without contrast....because they didn’t want to waste their time and energy on the girl who couldn’t handle a headache). They found the subarachnoid hemorrhage, but couldn’t locate the aneurysm. They told me they’d be transporting me to Mass General. I kept telling them I had to get back to work....I was being promoted, don’t you understand? This entire time, I only had a headache and stiff neck. They’re telling me my brain is bleeding, but I’m actually fine. They located the aneurysm via angiogram and put a pipeline in. The last thing I said before I went to sleep for the surgery was “Please don’t shave my head”. My hair and work....priorities. My doctor said the good news for my hair was that there was no open surgery to treat my aneurysm. It’s a rare type in a terrible location. I turned 40 in the hospital. After 10 days in ICU, I went home. I went back to work a month later (with my promotion). Since then, I’ve turned my entire life around. It’s weird to say it’s the best thing that ever happened to me, but, it really is. I took control of my physical and mental health. I don’t take anything for granted. I know how close I came to losing everything - the ability to walk and talk and my life. You’d think if your brain is bleeding and you were dying you’d know. I had no idea. I drove myself to the ER. I only had a headache and stiff neck. I only threw up twice. The staff at the first ER had no idea I walked in there in critical condition. They were going to send me home to die. Headache, stiff neck, nausea/vomiting. It can be as simple as that. If you have migraines, have an MRA. Find out if there is a reason you’re having these headaches. I’ve had only 4 headaches in the 2yrs since my rupture. I didn’t have migraines, I had an aneurysm. I realized nobody could diagnose me with migraines if they didn’t look at my brain. One doctor tried, but I didn’t do it - i was busy, it was just migraines, I’ll try this remedy posted online. That decision almost killed me. I’m so grateful to everyone at MGH in Boston for saving me in more ways than one. I left there a better, stronger person.
Kren George-Durieux Kren George-Durieux from Staten Island wrote on September 3, 2018 at 4:57 pm
Karen. George-Durieux from Staten Island, NY written on September 3, 2018 at 3:26. My name is Karen, I am a Brain-Aneurysm survivor. On February 9, 1990 God's blessing of healing showered my life. By God's grace, mercy, healing blessings and Dr. Steinberger's knowledgeable team of good doctors at Englewood Hospital in Englewood, NJ. I am living my second life! My Brain-Aneurysm journey, began with a painful-headache that last 1 week. At the end of that week. I went to take a shower and collapsed in the bath-tub. I tried to get myself up but fill back down. God, literally got me out of the tub. I crawled on the bathroom floor and leaned on the wall. As a saved woman of God. I remembered, asking God "Are you ready for me now." I immediately got the strength to hold the door knob and pull myself up. Wrapped a towel around me. Opened the front door of the 3 bedroom apartment on the fourth floor of a Brownstone home. Which at that time I was sharing with two other people. My entire left side was paralyzed, my head hanging on the left and I could not lift it up because of severe pain. Unable to speak was a problem to collaborate. I dragged through the front door, knocking on each apartment door, no one came out or so I thought. I got to the ground floor. A door opened, with four men telling me to come in! I looked at them with an "evil" eye, not being able to speak and dragged back up the four flights of steps. As I got back into the apartment, the house phone rang. I was glad, because I felt alone. Thank God, a cousin of mine, a nurse, called to thank me for the food I sent her. I could not respond, so she started to scream. I remember she told me she called the cops and the ambulance is coming for me. Taking me to Kings County Hospital. I remember the Medics came and they told me they will dress me. I shock my head meaning "NO." I dragged to my room, and pulled clothes on. I refused to get on the stretcher but when I got down on the ground floor they told me, I will have to get on the stretcher NOW. When I got in the Ambulance, every hole in the road the vehicle went in I felt My head was going to "EXPLODE." I remember, I did get to Kings County Hospital, a doctor asking me what is wrong. I pointed to the left side of my head. Two days, from Monday morning to Wednesday night no one in my family could find me at the hospital! I was discharged, Wednesday at 9:00pm. Dragged to New York Ave Brooklyn, NY and got on a bus to Carol St. Dragged 5 blocks across to my address and got up the four flights of steps. Laid on the bed when the telephone rang. The family I was working for in Tenafly, NJ kept in touch, with my family and were concerned about me. Since the hospital denied no one with that name is admitted there. They immediately sent a limo to pick me up. I remember arriving at their home. The next day, the family took care of their children. During the course of the day my boss kept calling the house but no answer. She decided to come home I was in a "coma." I was rushed to the Englewood Hospital. The cat scan showed nothing. The doctors, then injected me with the dye that lit up my entire system. Bam, the brain-aneurysm was already dripping in my brain. They had to do an emergency surgery which lasted 10 hours. I was in ICU for 3 weeks, my stay in hospital lasted 4 months. All I remembered, getting to the family's house on that Wednesday night and walking through this BEAUTIFUL garden of flowers. There was no end in site of colors of every imaginable shade, clean, the atmosphere was so bright, and peaceful! I kept jumping for joy going through such beauty! Then I heard a voice said to me "go back" 3 times. Life is a beautiful thing! As human beings we must cherish this gift with obedience!
Beverly Capobianco Beverly Capobianco from West Babylon wrote on August 28, 2018 at 10:10 pm
My name isBeverly I am a brain aneurysm survivor by the grace of god and my doc Bekelis and his team from Good Samaritan hospital in West Islip I am alive and whole and leading a great life I had the pleasure of meeting Todd on 8/28/18 he came to our support group he is a kind soul that has a mission to do and he was put here for a reason to figure out why and keep people abreast of brain aneurysms and give knowledge to all there was not a dry eye in the house as he told us his story I’m grateful to have meet this amazing man who is carrying on his life with his sons even with a broken heart and making sure that there is more education and groups for people to be aware if there is anything that I can do to help as a survivor please let me know I’m retired and would love to help others in need sincerely yours a brain aneurysm survivor Beverly
Edna Y. Campuzano Edna Y. Campuzano from New York wrote on August 28, 2018 at 2:59 pm
On October 29, 2017 I had an aneurysm (SAH). Thank God and the team at Mount Sinai Hospital on Amsterdam and on Madison Avenues in Manhattan working with my Neuro Surgeon Dr. Mocco, I am here today to tell my story. I got an intense pain above my right eye and it was so bad that I called 911. All I remember is my daughter and the paramedics coming to my aid and then I must have passed out because I remember waking up in the hospital bed and seeing my daughter and ex husband. I recall bits and pieces of visits I had from a few dear friends and a young man explaining coiling and how it was the best method they would use to stop the bleed. Then I had the best dreams ever where I saw beautiful colors and recall asking God to take care of my little girl and seeing clouds forming hands holding my daughter. Whether it was a divine revelation that everything would be okay or my injury, I accepted it all. I stood in the hospital for nearly three weeks. The physical therapy department helped me get on my feet and walking around the ward and then on my own. It was not easy as I saw everything double and needed to wear an eye patch. I also had difficulty hearing out of my right ear and my appetite at first was not so good. I eventually ate pretty much everything that was given to me including all of the medication and it was a lot. I needed to take sodium pills because for some reason my brain kept causing my body to flush all my sodium. I was in so much pain and discomfort. The Nursing department at Mount Sinai was the best. These nurses kept me pain free as possible and content. Both daytime and especially the night time nurses. I never knew I could have an aneurysm. I had been caring for my mother at home with the help if my daughter who is the only biological granddaughter and a few if our close friends. We suffered from caregiver fatigue and pretty much exhausted ourselves managing my mom who had been diagnosed the previous year with Lewy Body Dementia and it quickly debilitated her. She lost her battle with her illness and now I am left to manage my 91 year old father with my daughter's help. Today I take the steps necessary to ensure this a aneurysm does not happen again. I am scheduled to have an Angiogram soon and hopefully nothing further is found. Dr. Mocco tells me that the recovery is between one and two years and my primary doctor, Dr. Gary Carpenter assures me that he will monitor me closely to make sure I do recover completely. Dr. Carpenter was able to see that I am anemic and have Vitamin D deficiency. He referred ne to a great Cardiologist Dr. Gina Day to make sure I am clear for my upcoming Angiogram. I am thankful for the medical attention I had and I continue to have right now. Lesson learned is to value yourself and if you face the challenge of caring for a loved one that no one else wants to take care of like I faced, ask for professional help so you do not exhaust yourself.
Norma Sabol Norma Sabol from Norwalk wrote on August 22, 2018 at 12:13 pm
My mother's story is similar to the ones I have been reading. She presented with a horrible headache. My sister lives right next door and is a nurse so she called her. She took one look at her and called an ambulance. She was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm at our local hospital and then sent to a more specialized hospital. The initial procedure went very well and we were very hopeful. However, they warned us that the next 12-21 days would be crucial and very touch and go. Over the course of the next 12 days she would have 6 procedures to open up her veins to prevent further bleeding. What they don't tell you is that the treatment for preventing further brain aneurysms is to keep your blood pressure high. This is what ultimately killed her. On day 13, she died on the operating table. Her heart stopped and ours broke. This was in March 2018 and our lives have not been the same since. Very soon after that, there was a major league pitcher who had an aneurysm on the field and collapsed. He underwent the same treatment and is now alive, well, and will likely be playing again. That is the difference between a healthy, 30 year old heart, and an unhealthy 77 year old heart. My mother's just couldn't handle it anymore. My sisters, my father, and I are all so grateful to the amazing staff at the hospital who kept her alive for 13 days so that we could shower her with immense love and to thank her for being the wonderful mother, wife, grandmother that she was. We miss her every day.
Jocelynne DeVille Jocelynne DeVille from Edson wrote on August 20, 2018 at 1:01 pm
October 29 2013, my mom had a massive brain aneurysm at the age of 57. I discovered her in the bathroom and dialed 911, after being air lifted to a city hospital she was pronounced brain dead and placed on life support. We spent three days in hospital with her saying our goodbyes and finalizing her wish for organ donation. This was the worst time of my life to date. My mom was my best friend, and was an amazing and world class human being. I miss her every day! She had no warnings that we are aware of, she rarely suffered headaches but believe she must have been struggling with one that morning, as she had a bottle of Advil on the counter. She was a non smoker, and non drinker. She did suffer from elevated blood pressure and had a very stressful event happen the night before (discovered her father and nephew were in hospital). I was told by her neuro surgeon in hospital that there is a chance that this was hereditary and that I and my sister should get checked out. I had planned to get checked sooner than later, however got pregnant with my daughter (my mom's first grandchild) two months after her passing. After waiting till my daughter was a year old I got checked and sure enough they found a 8mm aneurysm, which I soon there after got coiled. It has been three years now and I have been going for annual MRIs to have it checked and it all looks good. Having lived through my mom's passing and being a new first time mother I was scared! I knew that I had to get checked and I had to have the surgery no matter how scared I was.....for my daughter's sake. I never suffered headaches or blood pressure issues before and now since having surgery I am more prone to headaches. I try now to raise awareness about the early detection and saving lives, if I can prevent one other person from experiencing this then this has all been worth it.
Margarita Farras Margarita Farras from Holmdel,NJ wrote on August 20, 2018 at 3:08 am
I am Margie Farras. In 2016 I was diagnosed with having a few brain aneurysms. It started when I kept getting quick blackouts. I fell in the shower, in the bathroom, and about 3 times down the stairs. I told my doctor and he sent me to a neurologist. I went and he sent me for an MRI. It came back negative. I was very upset I didn't know what to do. I then had symptoms of a mild stroke, but my doctor mistook it for a virus. I was in the hospital, but no one did a scan of my head. I went back to the neurologist and he sent my for and MRA and that is when my whole life changed, he saw a small spot on the brain. He then sent me to a neurosurgeon. He sent me for a CT scan and that is when he told me that not only did he see one but three. After that it was like a nightmare that you just can't wake up from. I was sent to a doctor in MT Sinai, in NYC. I was scheduled for an angiogram. After that they discussed with me what was going to happen next. They scheduled me for surgery the following week. They said that there was one that needed to be addressed right away because it had rigges that it would need a stent and that they could not do the coil procedure. If it was smoother then they would. They did the procedure and I was in ICU for 2 day. They scan and do angiograms every so often to see if there are any changes with the aneurysms. So far so good. The one that they fixed blood keeps seeping in, but he does not want to put another stent. I feel like a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. I don't know when I will get the worst headache of my life and then lights out.??
Cheryl McVeigh Cheryl McVeigh from Riverside wrote on August 18, 2018 at 3:26 pm
I always had my family and friends over to my house on Easter Sunday to celebrate. I made it a big deal for the children with personalized baskets, pinatas, a jumper and of course lots of food and treats. Because of the mess afterwards I always took the Monday after off work to clean. On Tuesday, the 22nd, I was on my last break when my nose suddenly felt numb and itchy at the same time. I wiped the tip of my nose with the top of my knuckle and when I looked there was a very tiny blood clot. My first thought was I was going to have a nosebleed so I went back to my desk to relax and put my head back. Nothing more happened so I finished my shift and left work. As I was driving home while stopped at a light I looked up at 3 palm trees in a center divider planter start to hopscotch over each other and knew I was in trouble. I made my left turn & pulled over. Luckily I wasn't far from home so when I felt better I started driving again. My daughter, son in law and 3yr old granddaughter were getting ready to leave & I asked them to wait until I put my things in the house so I could say hi to my granddaughter. They were remodeling my house with a family friend who was still inside finishing the cleanup of the days work. He asked me what I'd like to have done the next day & when I tried to answer him I started to stutter and my words were slurred. According to him I went very pale and moved like I was in slow motion so he told me to go lay down and he'd check on me in 5 minutes. I made it to my room but screamed then collapsed and my head went between my bed frame and nightstand. Luckily he heard my stream and came running. He carried me outside and yelled for my daughter to call 911. I started seizing and vomiting then my eyeballs popped out. I had blown 2 brain aneurysms, one on each side & just above each eye. It took 5 days and 3 hospital transfers to get stable enough for surgery and to also find a neurosurgeon who was knowledgeable enough to do the surgeries necessary to save my life. The hospital told my family I only had a 1% chance of survival and they should make funeral arrangements asap. My family was also told if I did survive I'd most likely be in a vegetative state for the rest of my life. I have had 4 brain surgeries in total and have proven the hospital wrong. I went back to work a year later, I'm walking, talking, cooking, driving, etc. I'm actually in the medical books and journals because I am the only known person to have suffered double brain aneurysms to survive and be completely functional again. I do have memories and skills that I've lost such as other languages I was fluent in and instruments I used to be able to play but I have my precious family including many more grandbabies and amazing son in laws our family has been blessed to include. I honestly think that if I had had any other neurosurgeon I wouldn't have survived let alone be functional. Thank you Dr. Marc Vanefsky. Your still mine and my family's hero ?
Megan Bacigalupo Megan Bacigalupo from Minneapolis wrote on August 9, 2018 at 9:32 am
Please feel free to share my story on your blog or wherever Thanks Megan Survivor of a subarachnoid hemorrhage and stoke http://www.edgemagazine.net/2018/06/in-the-cobwebs-of-my-mind/
Lauren Daly Lauren Daly from Liverpool wrote on July 24, 2018 at 10:50 am
I am writing this entry on behalf of my mum, Carol Ann Daly. My mum died on the 3rd of July 2018 after suffering a sub-arachnal brain hemmorraghe that was caused by a brain aneurysm at the age of 52. It was an ordinary day and we had some friends staying with us from Australia and after we had got ready we where about to leave the house to go out for a nice meal together. As we where about to leave my mum went upstairs to get her jacket and she began to complain to my dad of an almost unbearable pain in the centre of her head. My mum had been suffering with minor headaches for a while so my dad didn’t think much of it so he just came to stairs to fetch her some pain-killers. He gave me the tablets to take upstairs to my mum but as I looked around, she wasn’t there, so I came back downstairs to tell my dad. At this point everyone was gathering round the door ready to leave so we all started looking and shouting for her, my dad then glanced into the front room and saw her slumped, sitting on the couch. My dad got to her straight away and realised she wasn’t breathing and was unresponsive so I called an ambulance. On the phone they gave us instructions on how to try and get her breathing again. After about 90 seconds we had layer her onto the floor and managed to open her airway so but her breaths where very delayed. The paramedics then arrived and she began to mumbling some words but they where not very clear and she was suffering with double vision. When she was transported to the ambulance we where first took to our local hospital where they done a scan to try and find out what the problem was and when we got the results that it was a sub-arachnal brain hemmorraghe caused by an aneurysm we where very shocked. The hospital then made the call to transfer my mum to a specialist hospital for neuroscience called the Walton Centre. On arrival to this hospital my mum had a second bleed on the brain alongside in-noticed aspiration of vomit into the lungs which meant she was struggling to breathe so the doctors put her into a medically induced coma. Whilst under the sedation the doctors where allowed to keep my mum stable and keep a close eye on her brain activity. After two days of allowing the brain to rest the doctors decided to take my mum into theatre for an operation called coiling and explained that this procedure would prevent my mum from having any more bleeds in her recovery and moving on into the future, although they also had to warn us that doing this operation could leave the risk of a further stroke happening in the next 14 to 21 days, but the benefits of doing this procedure far out-weighed the risks.So they went ahead with the operation but unfortunately, in the middle of the procedure my mum sufferd a third bleed but because they could see it on screen they could deal with it very quickly. They kept my mum on full sedation after her operation for two days, this was to give her brain time to rest. After that they then began to lower her levels of sedation and she slowly began to become more responsive as time went on, she would be moving her head side to side and opening her eyes fully alongside squeezing my hands and wiggling her feet and toes. As they carried on to lower her sedation she got down to only 25% overnight but after speaking to the doctors they explained to us that she did not react very well to such low levels of sedation as she was vomiting and was very agitated, they said that this was quite common in some patients and may just be because they are not ready yet. In the early hours of the next day the doctors told us that her temperature had been very high and that at some points it was reaching up to 43 degrees and told us that this could be because the thermo-regulation in her brain may not be working due to the blood load in her head. So they had to bring her temperature down for her by using cooling pads all over her body and put her sedation back up quite high to keep her calm and comfertable as they didn’t want her to feel to cold and start shivering. She was kept like this for a day then the early hours of the next day me and my dad got called in at 3am and was told that my mum had suffer another stroke called infraction that was causing major swelling in one side of the brain they realised this when one of my mums pupils became unreactive. So they took her down for a scan a we where told the results by the time we arrived there. They showed that the infraction took place under the aneurysm and the swelling was spreading around the brain. A few minutes later her second pupil became unreactive, proving that the whole brain was now swollen and in a crushing state due to the pressure it was holding against the skull. The consultants the game to us and explained how there is no medical cure or solution in this situation and that my mum would not be waking up. They then went on to say that when death is suspected they are legally required to complete a brain stem test to lawfully confirm death. This test confirmed my mother’s death and she was pronounced dead on the 3rd of July 2018. In the passing days after this my dad told me that he was seeing some memory alterations and forgetfulness in my mums day to day routine, the doctors told us even little things like this can be discrete symptoms. Maybe if my family was more educated on the causes and symptoms of this, things may have been different but in my mums memory I would like to share our story and try my best to help prevent anything like this to happening to anybody else. I love you mum, you will be forever missed.
Nicole Nicole from Indianapolis wrote on July 8, 2018 at 12:32 am
On June 25, 2017 I experienced the "worst headache of my life" It was accompanied by blurry vision, but the excruciating pain and blurry vision passed in about 30 seconds. I did have a lingering headache, but nothing extraordinary so I didn't think much of it. A couple days passed and I still had the headache and it seemed to be getting worse. The doctor said my neck and back were out of place and sent me to a chiropractor. On July 4, 2017 I was in the bathtub, soaking, trying desperately to get some relief from the headache. I went to get out of the tub and couldn't. Fortunately I had my phone and was able to call my family for help. It was immediately apparent to them that I had had a stroke and they called 911. At the hospital it was discovered that I had apparently suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm 10 days prior and the bleeding and pressure in my brain then led to a stroke. Long story short I was in the neuro ICU until the end of September. I have very little memory of the time. They did not believe I would survive and that if I did I would not be functional. I was told by one neurologist that he had a booklet in his hand with 30 pages stating why I should not be alive. Well, not only did I survive, shocking everyone-I did so with no visible disability. I returned to work as a nurse at the end of September. I am very thankful, but in some ways the no visible disability is a curse. I get tired easier. Initially with the stroke, I lost all use of my left side. I regained the use of it before leaving the hospital, but if I am tired or stressed, my left hand will feel numb, or I might trip. Functioning normally takes about every bit of energy I have, something my loved ones don't understand-because I appear perfectly normal. I struggle with loud noise or crowds, I'm not sure why but they overwhelm me. I assume a side effect of the brain injury. I now tell everyone that I can that aneurysms are hereditary. I did not know that, even being a nurse. My father died of a ruptured aneurysm 5 years ago. Had I known that, perhaps I wouldn't have suffered the stroke, because it likely would have been discovered before the bleeding went on for 10 days. Education is crucial. I was one of the lucky ones, but still struggle daily and know that my life will never be what it once was.

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The Lisa Foundation, a 501 (c)(3), is the leading private funder of Brain Aneurysm initiatives that directly or indirectly support awareness, education, research, and survivor support in the U.S.

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