Johnny’s Story

At 17, Johnny suffered a seizure that led to the discovery and repair of a brain aneurysm. Years later, while he was bench pressing, the same aneurysm reopened and ruptured, changing his life in an instant. A Boston, Massachusetts, native, Johnny went on to run in and raise funds for the 2026 BAF Run/Walk at Castle Island. Here, he shares his story of survival and gratitude.

My name is Johnny, and my brain aneurysm journey began when I was 17 years old.

For months before my diagnosis, I had been experiencing severe migraines. I never imagined they were a warning sign of something so serious. Then, after football practice, I suffered a seizure. I was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered I had a brain aneurysm.

I underwent surgery to repair the aneurysm and spent the next few months recovering. As time passed, I started feeling like myself again. I returned to my normal routine and eventually went back to the gym, believing the hardest part was behind me.

Then, on January 26, everything changed.

While bench pressing during a normal workout, the same aneurysm reopened and ruptured. I immediately developed an excruciating headache, but I didn’t fully understand what was happening. Somehow, I was able to drive myself home. I lay in bed for about an hour, hoping the pain would improve, but instead I began feeling like I was going to pass out. That’s when I called my mom.

Emergency responders arrived and determined I needed to be transferred immediately to a specialized hospital. Because heavy fog made it impossible for a medical helicopter to fly, I was transported by critical care ground ambulance instead.

I spent 17 days in the intensive care unit. During the first week, I experienced repeated seizures as my medical team worked tirelessly to stabilize me. From my perspective, it felt like I was seizing every minute. It was terrifying and exhausting, and there were times when it felt like it would never end.

The hardest part wasn’t just what I was going through—it was seeing what my loved ones were going through as well. My girlfriend at the time was there for me every single day helping me to push through, my family was by my side throughout it all, watching me fight for my life. Knowing how scared they were and seeing the pain on their faces was one of the most difficult parts of the entire experience. I wouldn’t have survived without the constant support and love from each of them.