Arlicia Albert | Hometown: Beaumont, TX

Arlicia Albert, brain aneurysm survivor, BAF Board Member and advocate, is a sought-after national transformational speaker, author, corporate trainer, and accomplished global leader who lives a life that screams, “God is within her, and she will not fail!” 

BAF: Tell us a little about your connection with brain aneurysms.

AA: I was busy enjoying life when it stood toe-to-toe with me and hit me with a sucker punch I never saw coming; I suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm on my mother’s 72nd birthday, August 15, 2011. What a gift, right?

After unsuccessful attempts to repair my ruptured brain aneurysm, my life-saving procedure required agreeing to participate in a Humanitarian Use Device (HUD) project known as a “Cordis Enterprise Vascular Reconstruction Device and Delivery System – Humanitarian Use Device,” conducted by Dr. Peng Roc Chen and the Neurological Research Staff of the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston. Today, after three brain surgeries, ten cerebral angiograms, and an insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, my aneurysm has been successfully repaired and the research validated.

Further studies revealed a rare hereditary trait on the maternal side of my family. My grandfather, great-uncle, and aunt lost their lives to ruptured brain aneurysms. Hoping to find a cure to end this horrible disease, my family and I partnered with medical teams as a genetic trait case study for the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, TX, and the Family Research Institute of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Without warning, life hit me with yet another sucker punch when genetic testing discovered that my youngest daughter also had a brain aneurysm. It was another devastating blow I had always known was possible but never believed would happen again.

Unfortunately, there is absolutely nothing my family can do to change our DNA, but we will exercise our faith and fight to change the way the world sees brain aneurysms. 

BAF: When did you first learn about the BAF?

AA: When I started my journey to recovery, I had numerous questions. I was struggling to reclaim my life after surviving a ruptured brain aneurysm, and I lacked the guidance to navigate this new reality. No one could answer what I thought to be a simple question, “What happened to me?” I understood that I had had a ruptured brain aneurysm, but I needed someone to help me know what that meant for me and understand me when I said, “What has happened to me? I am not myself. I see myself in the mirror, but I don’t feel like myself and don’t know what is going on with me.

Despite my doctors’ and family’s efforts to comprehend my experiences, the answers I sought remained elusive until I remembered how to log onto my laptop. Once I began to do more for myself and learned to use the computer again, I immediately began searching the internet for “How to survive a ruptured brain aneurysm?” I stumbled upon the Brain Aneurysm Foundation Online Community and felt like my mom had given me her credit card and dropped me off at the candy store. I signed up and met people from around the world who were just like me. Brain aneurysm survivors who, too, were fighting to regain life and searching for answers to the same question, “What happened to me?”

I no longer felt alone. Meeting fellow survivors online gave me hope and encouragement and empowered me to fight for myself. I put Facebook on the back burner, and the BAF Online Support group became my online community. I shared the BAF Online Support group with my family and friends and had them create accounts to help them see where my superpowers were coming from. They, in turn, found answers and the help they needed to help me get better, a win-win for us all.

A few months later, a flyer informing survivors that the Brain Aneurysm Foundation was hosting Lobby Day in Washington, D.C., was posted. With zero lobby experience, I decided to go to D.C. to meet my new friends, and much like Dorothy, I journeyed on my yellow brick road to meet my Wizard of Oz, the Brain Aneurysm Foundation and my life changed for the better. 

BAF: Why is it important for you to be an advocate for the BAF community?

Without question, I have certainly had my share of lemons, and my life has been somewhat sour. But when you ask me about my life, I see it from a different set of lenses. I recognize that the lemons exist, yet instead of just making a pitcher of lemonade, I opt to create a lemonade stand.

My journey is not just about my own resilience but also about my commitment to others. I fight back, relying on my faith in God, myself, and my family. Daily, I dedicate myself to encouraging others to shift their focus, take charge of their lives, and become Agents of Change.

I have no control over the life punches I receive, but I do have control over how I choose to deal with the blows that life hits me with. It’s simple. You can choose to focus on the pain, whine and cry about it, become bitter and angry, or channel your hurt, pain, and anger in positive ways by fighting life back.

Advocating and fundraising for the brain aneurysm community is embedded within every fiber of my being. Research funding was made available to the team of physicians who saved my life. Daily, I am reminded that I am ALIVE because someone decided to go the extra mile, to BELIEVE in their vision and make a change that would save lives, ultimately saving my life! The physicians had a vision, but the vision required funding. As a recipient of successfully funded research, it is my oath and duty to reach back and help save someone else. I am grateful for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation and the valuable resources they offered to help me regain life and reinvent myself.

Arlicia’s message to the world:
“Enjoy life! Live On Purpose! Love Hard! and Laugh Often! It could happen to you!” 

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Click below to hear Arlicia talk about her brain aneurysm journey.