Brain Aneurysm Foundation

Celebrating Survival.  Blooming Together

June 1, 2020 my life changed in an instant.  After working out, I felt the worst headache of my life and collapsed to the ground.  I managed to reach for my phone and call my husband (who was still asleep upstairs) and said something is wrong.

It was the height of COVID, hospitals were locked down and we were all social distancing.  I was finally convinced to brave a trip to the Emergency Room.  Was dropped off as no visitors were allowed.  Sat in the ER as I was alert and awake and waited.

Crawled in a ball on a wheel chair and after what seemed as an eternity they brought me to get a CT/MRI.  That is when I knew something was wrong.  I suddenly went from the bottom of the totem pole to the top.  I heard the head doctor saying put her here and don't close the curtain.  I tried to find out what was going on and I was told to stay and don't get out of bed.

A doctor and neurosurgeon showed up at my bedside and that is when they shared, I have a ruptured brain aneurysm.  They said they were airlifting me to John Hopkins in Baltimore.  

I had a craniotomy and a clip was put in place on my aneurysm.  I was in NCCU for 21 days and besides my wonderful hospital staff no visitors.  My family had a lot of support from family, friends, neighbors - but it was still COVID times.  The girls were 8 and 13 - it was a tough time for everyone.

Looking back though I realize how luck I was.  I won the lottery that day.  As 1 in 50 have a brain aneurysm.  Of those that ruptured (like me) 50% are fatal.  For those that survived 66% suffer from some permanent neurological deficit.  

As tough as those 3 weeks in the hospital and post recovery was - I survived.  I am lucky to be here and I do what I can to spread awareness and raise funding to support research that can save lives.

Saturday, March 21 I invite family, friends and colleagues to join Cathy's Brainy Blossoms.  

We will be hitting the pavement in Haines Point for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation 5K.  This is a wonderful flat course and if we are lucky, the Blossoms will begin peaking out and we will get a good dose of the beginning of spring.

I'm fundraising for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation! 

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!