On November 18, 2024, while coaching a client over Zoom, Janine Durso experienced a sudden and excruciating headache unlike anything she had ever felt. Recognizing that something was terribly wrong, she ended the session and called her husband. He immediately called 911 and rushed home. Within moments of his arrival, Janine lost consciousness.

Janine was rushed to White Plains Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured brain aneurysm. At the time, she had never heard of a brain aneurysm and had no idea that one was causing her symptoms. Her recovery was long and challenging, including four weeks in the ICU followed by ten days in rehabilitation. There, she worked to regain skills many take for granted—learning to walk again, rebuilding her memory, carrying on conversations, and even making change for a dollar.

Throughout her recovery, Janine found support and education through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, a resource recommended by her neurosurgeon, Dr. Jared Cooper. Through BAF, she gained a deeper understanding of brain aneurysms, the realities faced by survivors, and just how fortunate she was to have survived.

Inspired by her experience, Janine and her supporters established the Janine Durso Chair of Research through Team Janine’s fundraising efforts. The initiative is dedicated to raising awareness of brain aneurysms and advancing research focused on early detection, prevention, and screening. Janine’s hope is that this work will help save lives and improve outcomes for future patients, survivors, and their families.