My name is Gracia, and I live in Alberta. I discovered my unruptured aneurysm completely by accident after having an MRI done for an unrelated issue.
Hearing the words, “You have an 8mm aneurysm,” was something my mind could hardly process at first. It didn’t truly sink in until the CT scans, specialist appointments, and neurosurgeon referrals began. That’s when I realized how serious it really was.
Just one month earlier, a colleague of mine had passed away from a brain aneurysm, and suddenly my fear became very real. I remember thinking, “I’m going to die.” The wait for surgery was one of the hardest parts — living every day feeling like there was a ticking time bomb inside my brain. I spent countless hours researching aneurysms, reading about ruptures, symptoms, and outcomes, which only fueled my anxiety during the wait.
When surgery day finally arrived, I was told it would likely be one night in the ICU and home the next day. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. I suffered a brain bleed and a second stroke, which caused me to lose mobility in my right leg. Instead of going home, I spent two months in the hospital — an experience that truly tested me in every possible way.
Losing the ability to walk, needing help to use the washroom, and waking up every day with a tube coming out of my brain was overwhelming, frightening, and surreal. But somehow, I got through it.
I owe so much to the incredible staff at the University of Alberta Hospital Neuro ICU, the team at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, and the unwavering support of my family and friends. Their care, encouragement, and support carried me through the darkest moments of my recovery.
Today, I still have some numbness in my foot, and there are certain things I can no longer do the same way. But I can walk. I can run. I can bike. I can compete. And for that, I feel incredibly blessed. This experience changed my life completely. It was a wake-up call to truly live, appreciate every moment, and take better care of my health. Listen to your body, prioritize your well-being, and never take life for granted.
