I’m writing this blog to share my experience with a ruptured brain aneurysm. This is a personal account of what happened to me, from the moment I was rushed to the hospital to the moment I was discharged from the hospital.
I hope that by sharing my story, I can help others who may be facing a similar situation. I want to give hope to those who may feel like they are alone in this fight.
This is my story.
The aneurysm ruptured while my boyfriend and I were getting ready to go to the beach for the weekend.
The aneurysm ruptured while my boyfriend and I were getting ready to go to the beach for the weekend. I remember the pain being unbearable and I couldn't breathe. It felt like someone was squeezing my brain and I felt extremely dizzy and lightheaded. I knew something was wrong, so I told my boyfriend to call an ambulance to take me to the hospital right away. He thought I was overreacting at first but finally called.
Once I arrived at the hospital, they did a few tests and scans to determine what had happened. Fortunately, they were able to diagnose the situation and determined that the aneurysm had ruptured. They said that I was most likely not going to make it. A nurse told me I should pray. I was extremely lucky, as most people don’t survive a ruptured aneurysm.
The doctors told me that I would need to remain in the hospital. During my stay at the hospital, I was surrounded by amazing doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who took care of me and monitored my progress. They were all extremely supportive and made sure I was comfortable. After a few weeks of barely surviving and observation, I was finally discharged from the hospital.
I was rushed to the hospital then flown to UCSF and had to undergo emergency surgery
The night I arrived at the Veterans Hospital, they flew me to the UCSF Medical Center. I was taken to the OR (Operating Room) immediately. I had to undergo emergency surgery to repair the aneurysm.
The surgery to repair the aneurysm wasn’t something I had time to prepare for or even think about. It was a whirlwind experience. One moment, I was getting ready to go to the beach, and the next moment, I was in the OR having brain surgery.
The doctors had to use a special device called an aneurysm clip to repair the aneurysm. It involved inserting a small metal clip into my brain to stop the bleeding and reduce the pressure. Then I was transferred to the UCSF Medical Center ICU for further care, where I stayed for a month.
At UCSF, I had to be monitored 24/7 for any signs of the aneurysm leaking. The doctors wanted to make sure that the clip was working, and that there was no further damage to my brain. They had to make sure my body accepted the surgery and didn't shut down. It was terrifying to me. When someone goes through brain trauma the mind reacts different. I truly thought I was a POW. I remember screaming in horror. I thought I was being poisoned and injured.
Pain was overwhelming. I wanted to run but was so weak. I don't remember very much but what I do remember is terrifying. During this time, I also had to undergo rigorous tests, scans, and other therapies to get me back on my feet.
The experience of having a ruptured brain aneurysm was one of the most challenging experiences of my life, but I made it through with the help of the understanding and compassionate doctors and nurses who cared for me along the way.
My recovery process took a month and return home was hard. I looked like me in the mirror but inside I wasn’t. I didn’t know who I was.
My recovery process was a difficult journey. I was weak and exhausted after days of tests and scans. I was also in pain from the surgery and the swelling in my brain. When I was finally discharged from the hospital after a month, I was still so weak. My balance was off, I had double vision, and I wondered how I would take care of myself at home.
The road to recovery was hard. Every day was a struggle – I had to focus and exert a lot of energy to regain strength, mental clarity, and normal functioning. I had to re-learn to do everything on my own, from walking to talking and basic tasks like brushing my teeth.
I had to get creative with my therapy and used music and dancing to help me re-strengthen my muscles. I also self-taught some yoga poses to help me regain balance and coordination. Most importantly, I took time to reflect and do my emotional healing.
Miracles do happen!
Slowly but surely, I was making progress. Everyday tasks that I used to take for granted became huge accomplishments. After months of hard work and dedication, I was finally able to return home with a newfound appreciation for life. I was ready to begin my new life journey again.
How my life has changed since the aneurysm rupture. I lost my boyfriend and many friends.
Life after the ruptured brain aneurysm has changed significantly for me. I have lost my boyfriend and many friends during my recovery process. Some of them just drifted away, some found out about the situation and felt helpless, so they chose to ignore me. After the aneurysm, I also had to leave my job and put my career on pause.
At first, this was difficult for me, but I now look at it as an opportunity to reset and live in the moment more. I am more open to trying new things and learning more to pursue my goals.
I have also started to be more mindful of my thoughts and actions. I now take much better care of myself in terms of mental health and sleep, which were two areas I wasn’t good at before. I also focus more on self-care and give myself more “me” time to reflect and relax.
I have come to recognize and appreciate the simple things. I am more aware of the preciousness of time and how quickly it can pass. This has led me to live more intentionally and make the most of every moment.
The experience of surviving a ruptured brain aneurysm has made me a different person. I look at life differently now; I am more compassionate, understanding and thankful for the small moments.
What I’ve learned from my experience
My experience with the ruptured brain aneurysm has taught me many valuable lessons. One of the most important is the power of resilience.
No matter how challenging your circumstances may be, never give up. I have repeatedly been knocked down and had to fight every day. But I never gave up and I'm still standing to share my story.
I have learned to be stronger than my obstacles. I kept my faith and kept pushing through, despite all the scary and hard times.
I’ve learned that life is unpredictable, and we are all vulnerable to unexpected events. Therefore, it’s important to take each day as it comes and be grateful for every moment.
I’ve also come to realize the importance of family and friends. It's impossible to get through hard times without a supportive community around you.
From my experience, I've come to understand the power of being open and vulnerable. Opening up about my struggles allowed me to connect with others, who in turn have provided me with amazing encouragement and hope.
The ruptured brain aneurysm was an incredibly difficult experience, but it has also been an invaluable source of strength, resilience and courage.
The ruptured brain aneurysm journey has been challenging and has taught me invaluable lessons. From understanding my vulnerability to unexpected events, to realizing the power of resilience and the importance of family and friends, I’ve learned so much.
My experience has taught me that life can be unpredictable, yet we can find strength to face all the obstacles. Keeping an open conversation with those who matter to me helps to reduce the burden of hard times and to be able to move forward.
Despite the challenges, I’m grateful for every moment of my life. I had to go through a difficult experience to come to understand a truth that could have never been known otherwise.
I hope my story will encourage others who are facing similar life’s adversity. You can use your experience to learn, grow, and be stronger. We don’t know what the future holds but we can be prepared for anything that comes our way.