Brain Aneurysm Foundation Eleana’s Story
How surviving a ruptured brain aneurysm fueled me to become an unstoppable soul
My name is Eleana, and I’ve always lived life in the fast lane. Growing up in a hustle culture, I pushed myself hard and stayed focused until I reached my goals. Finishing one project usually meant jumping straight into the next big thing. I was always ready to hit the gas and keep moving forward. Challenges fuel me with more determination. I was already unstoppable by nature. Stepping on the brakes was not written in my manual.
In fact, before stepping into the corporate world, I was already involved in my community back home in the Philippines. While studying Asian Studies at the University of Santo Tomas, I organized events mostly to help kids, led projects with UNICEF, and took on leadership roles in student groups. Being active, social, and passionate was a big part of who I am.
A year after finishing my degree, I worked as a Research Assistant. This led to an opportunity to be the Marketing Coordinator for an international event. Handling such a big conference got me super motivated! I was working almost around the clock, fueled by adrenaline and excitement to see everything succeed. The event was a big success, but instead of taking a break, I kept chasing the next high and stayed busy with work that also came with a very active social life.
Then April 15, 2015, everything changed. After a family trip that I couldn’t enjoy because of terrible headaches (even after double doses of painkillers), I got hit with the worst headache of my life. I tried to sleep it off, but the pain just wouldn’t stop. Suddenly, my speech got slurred. Luckily, my cousin was staying over and rushed me to the emergency room at Makati Medical Center, just five minutes from my condo. The doctors found out I had a ruptured brain aneurysm and I needed emergency brain surgery.I woke up two days later, unable to speak, walk, or take care of myself. I was 22, but my body felt like a toddler’s.
I spent over a month in the hospital, forced to rest, which was something I’d never really done before. That time made me realize that I had some symptoms since high school, like bad headaches, vomiting, and dizziness, not knowing these were actually warning signs. But I kept thinking, “I’m too young for something this serious.” After surgery, I dealt with tough symptoms: permanent blind spots in my vision, losing the ability to run, cognitive problems like aphasia (speech disorder) in both Filipino and English, trouble understanding things, and general confusion. These invisible effects were some of the hardest parts. Frustration hit me a lot, wishing my body would just go back to normal. But even then, I feel lucky to have been given a second chance at life, even if I took my body for granted.
Throughout this journey, I’ve been so lucky to have support from so many people — friends, family, colleagues, schoolmates, and even acquaintances sent me encouragement in different forms while I was in the hospital.
I was also blessed with amazing health specialists and educators who made recovery lighter. In the Philippines, my speech therapist Jonathan was not just skilled but was also funny and encouraging. An occupational therapist helped me with movement, and caregivers like Teacher Amie supported me during my hospital stay. After moving to the U.S., Teacher Kristel, a close high school friend, helped me rebuild my communication skills and still supports me today. I’m truly grateful to everyone who has been part of my healing.
Even now, my greatest sources of strength come from my life advocates. My mother provided everything I needed, and she continues to support me to this day. My brother would gently sit beside me — especially during moments when the weight of recovery was catching up with me — and remind me that I could get through it. My father later petitioned for me to move to the US, giving me the chance to start anew.
There are moments when I wonder if I’m still the same person after everything I’ve been through, but my husband, whom I have met after my recovery always makes me feel that I am my best version. Through the hardest days, the uncertainty, and a life that doesn’t follow the usual path — he continues to love me fully. And that kind of love… is everything.
I also get a bunch of support from my extended family, my friends, and the communities I’m part of. My social media followers and advocacy groups keep me motivated and connected. I’m so thankful for this network of care.
Because of all this, I learned we’re not meant to carry it alone. Healing together now shapes how I live and think. Participating in the Brain Aneurysm Foundation’s Advocacy Day this March 2026 supercharged that realization — surrounded by people who care as deeply as I do, after 11 years of advocating solo. Now, I can push even further by championing Ellie’s Law alongside them to fund vital brain aneurysm research.
When I was lying in that hospital bed, I kept wondering if I could still reach my dreams with the body I had left. Recovery was slow, and that was tough for my fast-paced pre-aneurysm self to accept. But I found that life’s beauty and fulfillment can be found in stillness. Some of the highs of my recovery include working again, moving to the U.S., driving, riding horses, getting married, and even buying a home. One of my proudest moments has been using my voice to raise awareness about brain aneurysms, ongoing health challenges, and supporting survivors. Sharing my story helps others take care, feel less alone in their survival era, and be more informed about the real, unfiltered moments of healing.
There are still challenges every day — speaking clearly can be difficult, physical activities like running or extended sports sessions are limited, and if I choose to have a child, I will need to deliver via C-section. I also need more time to process instructions and information, which means I can no longer return to the kind of career I once thrived in before my ruptured brain aneurysm.
But in letting go of that path, I began to understand my essence beyond performance — and even discovered my life path. It wasn’t one I would have chosen before. In a different life, I might have overlooked it entirely. But after everything changed, I stepped into roles that were simply available to me — babysitting and working in a daycare.
And in that space, something unexpected unfolded. What started as circumstance slowly revealed itself as alignment. It was caring for children that I’ve always found a sense of purpose that felt steady, grounding, and real. Not the path I planned — but the one that met me exactly where I was.
I used to believe being unstoppable meant never slowing down — always chasing the next goal, always pushing forward. But life taught me something deeper.
An unstoppable soul knows when to pause, when to breathe, when to honor the body that carries it. An unstoppable soul understands that strength isn’t just in the push, but also in the rest that sustains it. An unstoppable soul learns that we are not meant to do this alone — that healing and thriving is rooted in connection, in support, in the presence of people who show up.
And now, I see it clearly: an unstoppable soul isn’t defined by speed, but by how fully it chooses to live.
Through Go Eleana Go, I share a journey of resilience, growth, and community — a reminder of how fragile life is, and how powerful it becomes when we choose to embrace its beauty.
Because life isn’t about how fast we go. It’s about how fully we choose to live — even if that means learning to move at a different pace.
Tiktok: @eleanaseverything