Friends and Family,

Almost 10 years ago, I suffered from a ruptured brain aneurysm with no warning signs. Speaking in a meeting at work one minute and unconscious the next. I would later learn that a tiny blood vessel had burst in my brain causing a subarachnoid hemorrhage. This is an incredibly rare thing for an otherwise healthy 26-year-old with no family history. Half of the people that are dealt this unlucky hand do not make it to the hospital alive. And of the half that do, another half do not leave the hospital without severe mental or physical deficits.  I was one of the lucky ones, so to speak. With brain surgery, a month in ICU and 3 months of rehab, I found my way back to myself. As I watch my three young kids growing up, I am often reminded that for many people the outcome was different. They did not know the warning signs. They did not live close to incredible medical care like Northwestern. They did not have a support network to recover. 1 in 50 people have a brain aneurysm and the science is getting better at early detection.  Education and awareness matter.

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is the world's premier 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 help fight the devastation caused by brain aneurysms and save lives. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Your generosity and support is greatly appreciated.

Cheers to celebrating ten years of survival, remembering how lucky we are and to giving back.

Love, Emily