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

JD:I was coaching a client on Zoom on the morning of November 18, 2024, when I suddenly had the worst headache of my life. I knew something was very wrong, but I had no idea what was happening. It felt like something broke in my brain.

I called my husband at work. He called 911 and raced home. I was disoriented and nauseous, and within minutes of him arriving home, I was losing consciousness.

I was rushed to a nearby hospital, then transferred to White Plains Hospital, where Dr. Jared Cooper performed emergency brain surgery to treat a ruptured aneurysm. I spent about a month in the ICU and received the best care from the entire neuro team at WPH.

From there, I went to Burke Rehabilitation for inpatient rehab to learn to walk again and rebuild my cognitive skills and memory. After I was able to return home, recovery continued for many more months.

While I no longer have visible signs of what I’ve been through, I still feel some differences. The biggest is fatigue. I have to pay more attention to my energy and give myself more rest than I used to. The experience has also changed how I see my life and the work I do. I’m grateful to the people who saved my life and helped me find my way back.

JD: I first learned about the Brain Aneurysm Foundation through Dr. Cooper. I asked him if there were any in-person support groups, and he told me he was starting one at White Plains Hospital in partnership with BAF. I was so relieved to know I would soon be able to connect with other survivors and caregivers! We’ve now been meeting for over a year, and the support group has been a huge part of my healing.

“The BAF has been a steady source of education and information that I share with others on social media. I’ve been able to use my own experience to spread awareness, advocate for others, and help people understand why funding brain aneurysm research matters.

BAF: Have you participated in any BAF events?

JD: Yes! I participated in my first BAF 5K in New York City in September 2025, just ten months after my rupture. After learning to walk again, being there wearing a shirt that said “SURVIVOR” with my family and friends beside me meant so much to me.

In March 2026, my daughter and I joined BAF’s advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., where we spoke with senators to urge them to pass Ellie’s Law, which would provide dedicated funding for brain aneurysm research. Being able to bring my own experience into those conversations gave me another way to speak up for this community.

I also attended the Research Symposium in Louisville this past September, where I met Dr. Teresa Sanchez and helped present her with a $30,000 research grant. The money I raised from the 5K was combined with funds raised by two other survivors to make that grant possible. Meeting Dr Sanchez and hearing about her research made the impact of our fundraising real. It’s not often you can see directly where the funds you raise are going.

I was also invited to share my story at the symposium dinner. Being in a room with survivors, families, researchers, and the BAF team left me so inspired and wanting to do more.

BAF: What does the BAF community mean to you?

JD: There’s comfort in connecting with people who understand what my family and I have been through. And knowing there are people so dedicated to helping more of us survive and recover gives me hope. It’s a community I never expected to be part of, and now it means so much to me.

BAF: If you could share one thing with the world about brain aneurysms, what would it be?

JD: Know the signs and take them seriously, even if you’re worried you’re overreacting or bothering someone. (Spoiler alert: you’re not!) Calling 911 can feel scary. But a sudden, severe headache, especially the worst headache of your life, is an emergency. You don’t have to know what’s causing it to call 911. Don’t wait to see if it passes. Get help right away. I’m grateful I’m here to say that.