On Father’s Day of 2025, at the age of 18, I suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm during a training run.
As a young Division 1 runner, I, like many others, believed my age and health would keep me immune from serious health issues. That these things wouldn’t happen to me. But within a matter of seconds, my life was turned upside down. I was transported to 3 different hospitals, underwent 2 emergency surgeries, and had 2 additional surgeries to repair both the ruptured aneurysm as well as an additional unruptured aneurysm that was discovered. The percent chance of this happening to a healthy 18 year old is slim to none.
It is easy to become frustrated when reflecting on these statistics but I have instead chosen to reflect on the privilege of life I was given in my recovery and the opportunity this has presented to raise awareness for brain aneurysms. I have been given a new passion and appreciation for life. My life’s mission has been recentered around teaching those around me the lessons I have taken away from this experience. My life is living proof of many unknown statistics surrounding brain aneurysms.
First and foremost:
They have a tendency to run in families. After my rupture, my neurosurgeon recommended that all my immediate family members be screened for aneurysms. Lo and behold, it was revealed that my mom had 3 unruptured aneurysms. How long they had been there for, we will never know. Due to my history, my neurosurgeon chose to operate on her aneurysms, clipping them before rupture. Early detection is so crucial and we can assume it is what saved my mom’s life.
Secondly:
Aneurysms do not discriminate. Aneurysms do not care if you are young or old. They do not care if you are an avid athlete or a couch potato. They are not a reflection of who you are or what you do, but often just an unlucky draw. This is not something that should scare you, but instead should show that this is a disease that affects everyone, and in turn, should be something that is cared about by everyone.
