Brain Aneurysm Foundation

Hi Everyone,

As many of you know, my amazing daughter, Hannah Phelan McChesney, chose to do a fundraiser a few years back for her 18th birthday to honor her Poppy, Erich McChesney, and donate to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. She raised 500 dollars in just a few short weeks! So based on this amazing response, she and I have decided to set up a Memorial Page for Erich through the foundation. When Erich first passed away in May of 2016, we also received some generous donations to this foundation in his name from his doctors and friends. So we think it would be wonderful as a memorial to him that we come together each year to remind folks about this great organization and all that they do to help prevent loss of life from Brain Aneurysms AND support those affected by them and their families.

As we learned all too well, research and development are so vital in a disease like this. In 2013, when Erich was first formally assessed by a surgical team, there were not the right tools available for his Aneurysm to be repaired. We prepared for the inevitable and hoped for the best. In just three short years, as his disease progressed aggressively, so did the tools and research and his surgeons were able to attempt to repair his Aneurysm with some newly developed tools - something we thought was not even a possibility.

We were so grateful for that glimmer of hope for Erich to survive. And because he was so young and such a fighter, he really had a great chance to be a success story. Sadly, the repair posed more challenges than expected. The recovery was rough, and Erich suffered a severe stroke while under a medically induced coma that halted any chance of his return to health. After 40 days in ICU Erich passed peacefully on May 6, 2016, approximately 5 and a half years after his initial diagnosis. His strength, resilience and will to live left a lasting memory on all of his medical teams, his family and his friends. We will never forget you Erich!

Much of his strength came from the hope that he had been given by his doctors and surgeons! They encouraged him to fight and stay healthy and strong for as long as he could! He lost 70 lbs and dropped to some of the best blood pressure and cholesterol numbers you could ever imagine from a cigar-smokin, whiskey-drinkin, BBQ-eatin 82nd Airborne Paratrooper!!!

The research, education, and support that comes from this foundation can be directly tied to that as well! We appreciate the efforts of this organization and want to encourage as much support for them as we can so that others have a fighting chance for success - just like Erich did!

I'd like to be able to count on you to make a donation to the organization so that I can help them fulfill their mission. Giving is easy! Please click Donate Now on our page.

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is the world's only nonprofit organization solely dedicated to providing critical awareness, education, support, and research funding to reduce the incidence of brain aneurysm ruptures.

All proceeds go towards:
• Funding and supporting new research.
• Providing support and educational materials to the medical community, the newly diagnosed, survivors, family members, friends and the general public regarding the facts, treatment options, and recovery process for brain aneurysms.
• Increasing awareness of brain aneurysms by promoting National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month in September and by distributing aneurysm awareness materials to Emergency Departments in every hospital and to the community.

With your support, we can start making a real investment to help fight the devastation caused by brain aneurysms and save lives. All donations are tax-deductible and every dollar raised goes to help support the mission of the Brain Aneurysm Foundation.

If you cannot make a donation at this time, please forward this e-mail and link to everyone you know. Post this on your Facebook and Twitter pages. Every donation counts, no matter what the amount.

The loss of a loved one is devastating. However, we know how lucky we were to have Erich in our lives - no matter how brief that time was.

Thank you for your thoughtfulness, love and care for Hannah, me and the rest of our family over the years. I know that my relationships are deeper and stronger because of Erich and for that I am so grateful.

Your generosity and support is greatly appreciated.

Love Mary and Hannah.