Brain Aneurysm Foundation

Hello my dear friends, family, co-workers and colleagues-

I truly hope all is well with you and yours. This is going to be a long one (per usual when it's a message from me!) I have a few things I'd like to let you know. I'll try to be as concise as possible, but, for me, that's typically impossible. Especially when I feel so passionately about something. With that said, I hope you can please excuse my run-on rambling.

For those of you who may not know, my personal story is that on the evening of April 23rd, 2024 I had a brain aneurysm rupture. After being misdiagnosed as a migraine (by both myself assuming as much - what else could it be? - and medically by a walk-in clinic) and losing precious time with me trying to “sleep it off” - I went to the ER approximately 1.5 days later when I couldn’t take the pain and dehydration anymore and from there, it ("it" being, namely, my life being saved) all happened so quickly.

In the Mount Sinai ER I was taken very seriously, (thank goodness!), and I was given an IV of fluids with a CT scan to follow shortly after. Once the results from the CT scan showed up, I'll never forget how a man, presumably an ER doctor, knelt down next to me and explained that I had a brain bleed and a brain aneurysm rupture. He said I would need to be rushed to another one of their hospital locations via ambulance and immediately taken to emergency endovascular brain surgery. This all occurred in what seemed like in the blink of an eye.

I spent 18 days in the hospital at Mount Sinai (15 of which in the neurosurgery ICU), and since the end of April I’ve miraculously had as close to a full recovery as possible!

Now that we have that part out of the way, here comes even more GOOD NEWS!

I'll be speed walking/jogging (when I can; if I can!) for this 5K, as I've registered this year as a walker. I dug a little deeper into Cindy's story - she is what the 5K is named for. I'd like to share it with you.

-- Cindy’s Story --

Early on Monday morning, April 23rd, 2007, Cindy Sherwin left her Lower East Side apartment and began her day with a grueling bike ride on Riverside Drive. She was training for her first Ironman Triathlon scheduled for Lake Placid, NY in July. Cindy was an experienced marathon and triathlon competitor. She ran the New York Marathon five times and competed in numerous triathlons. The Ironman, the ultimate triathlon, was a personal challenge, and one she had dedicated herself to with the energy and passion she applied to all the other important commitments in her life. The Ironman required eight months of hard training in addition to her full schedule as an elite fitness instructor and a nutritionist, obligations for radio and TV appearances and, most recently, a new-found pleasure – speaking to elementary and middle-school children about the central theme of her life, examining the close relationship between nutrition and fitness.

This would be a characteristically busy day for Cindy. She started with an early morning cycle ride in preparation for the 112-mile Ironman bike portion, a packed schedule of clients throughout the day, and perhaps a run in Central Park late in the afternoon.

But this wasn’t to be a typical day for Cindy. Midway through her ride, Cynthia Lynn Sherwin suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and died suddenly at the young age of 33.

That is the end of Cindy's story, and it's made me cry more than once.

Here's something you may not realize -

I, too, had my brain aneurysm rupture on April 23rd

- exactly 17 years to the day as Cindy's.

Wow did I SURE take THIS as a clear sign. Sadly, her book has closed. But mine is still being written.

I've decided to try to use my (sometimes immense) survivor's guilt I feel from reading these grave and horribly painfully sad outcomes from brain aneurysm ruptures and I've started to shift my mentality and spirit to what light there can be found in a very dark space.

I couldn't be more excited about my decision to honor Cindy by moving my body (my wonderful body that has healed me incredibly - I need to be nicer towards how I think about her, you know…) with my team in just a few days from now!

Make no mistake, I'm not doing this for a stellar finishing time. I'm doing this mostly to join my community, honor Cindy, and hopefully raise some money for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation.

Here's some general information on TeamCindy's 5K:

Every September, brain aneurysm survivors, medical professionals, friends, families, and supporters come together for a dynamic timed 5K run/walk followed by a festive afterparty. This family-friendly event is an opportunity to remember and honor loved ones who have been affected by brain aneurysms. All proceeds support the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, and fully fund the annual Cynthia Lynn Sherwin Chair of Research grant. Since its inception, TeamCindy has raised over $800,000 which has helped fund the brightest minds in the neurological field to continue their vital research. 

Right now, my fundraising goal reflects the symbolism of both Cindy and I having our aneurysms hemorrhage on April 23rd. (I’d HAPPILY exceed that written amount, though, if that happy accident occurs!) Every donation made is another possible life saved from the devastation caused by brain aneurysms.

I know how times are tough for everyone right now, so even just an encouraging message sent over to me since I'm still a little trepidatious in participating in my first 5K will go a LONG way.

Also, if you made it this far, thanks for reading. I owe you a hug.

Sending love to you all. We can do hard things. 

- Jules

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OUR MISSION: To promote early detection of brain aneurysms by providing knowledge and raising awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors. Work with the medical communities to provide support networks for patients and families, as well as to further research that will improve patient outcomes and save lives.

Through your support, the Brain Aneurysm Foundation will be able to continue to provide support and educational materials and information to brain aneurysm patients, their families, and the medical community and to promote critical awareness of brain aneurysms which will lead to earlier detection. The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is funding essential research that will promote a better understanding of why this condition happens and identify those at risk before an aneurysm rupture occurs. 

Thank you for making a difference with your support!