Brain Aneurysm Foundation Brianna’s Story
On what seemed like an ordinary day, everything changed. In this powerful firsthand account, Brianna shares her experience surviving a ruptured brain aneurysm. A condition she didn’t even know she had. From the first signs of trouble to the long road of recovery, her story is a reminder of how quickly life can shift and how important it is to listen to your body, seek medical care, and advocate for awareness. Watch the video or read the full transcript below to hear her journey in her own words.
Video Transcript:
I woke up that day with a headache. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. I don’t actually remember it. My husband said I went to work like it was a normal day. At some point, I started feeling nauseous and thought maybe it was something I ate.
I was about to get on a bus to coach a sport when I said, “I think I need to fix my stomach. I don’t know what’s going on.” Then, I started losing vision in my left eye. I called a coworker and asked, “Can you run me out some Tylenol or Advil? I need to get on the bus. I’ve got to go coach.”
She came outside, took one look at me, and called EMS. I didn’t understand why they were even there—but they made me lie down, strapped me to the stretcher, and brought me to the hospital. The EMTs didn’t know whether it was a brain aneurysm or a stroke, but they knew something was seriously wrong.
When the brain aneurysm ruptured, it turned out to be massive. Most aneurysms are measured in millimeters, and mine was three to five centimeters. They had to remove part of my skull immediately. I wore a helmet for five months until the swelling went down enough for the bone flap to be reattached.
It took a lot of work to recover. I’ve never been a patient person, but I had to learn patience and to really listen to my body. I had to relearn how to read and write. I was constantly searching online, trying to understand what everything meant.
As I began learning more through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation and getting involved with their work, I realized just how much I didn’t know. I never would have guessed that one in 50 people have a brain aneurysm. I never knew there was only a 50% chance of surviving a rupture.
Even though I’ve only been involved with the Foundation for about a year, I’ve learned something new every day, every month, through them and through the research they help fund.
My hope for the future is that more people become aware of brain aneurysms, whether ruptured or unruptured. I hope there’s more research, more understanding, and that people take headaches, migraines, or sudden pain seriously. See your doctor. Listen to them. And most importantly, always advocate for yourself.