Nitpicking, but still.

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Okay media folks…one does not die from “having a brain aneurysm”. One usually dies because they had a RUPTURED brain aneurysm. This just adds to the confusion and misconceptions that just because you HAVE a brain aneurysm, means you will die.

Reports of celebrities deaths due to a brain aneurysm are all over the place.  I have two brain aneurysm. One ruptured, one has not…yet. A brain aneurysm does not cause death…a rupture can. I know in the grand scheme of things, it’s a minor wording issue, but when we’re trying to educate the public, it’s frustrating to read. Any death is senseless and I’m “glad” (for lack of a better word) that people are being made aware of the cause of the death when in most cases obituaries don’t even list the cause of death. Because I survived a rupture and my husband’s niece died of a rupture, we wanted to make sure we left the public know what caused her death and our goal is to let the public know that if you discover you HAVE a brain aneurusm, things can be done to you can survive and live a long, and happy life.

Again…a brain aneurysm cannot cause death, but a ruptured one CAN.  I’ll hop off my snippy soapbox now…just had to get that off my chest.

KAT-Walk and Karo-5K Run for Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness

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WHEN: Saturday, September 7, 2013
WHERE: Portland, Maine
KAT-Walk and Karo-5K for Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness

Lace up your walking and running shoes and join us for the KAT-Walk & Karo-5K for Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness. This annual event benefits the Brain Aneurysm Foundation in their efforts to support early detection, education, fund research and create awareness about brain aneurysms.

This year’s event will be held on Saturday, September 7th, 2013, along the Back Cove Boulevard in Portland, Maine. The event starts at 11:30 a.m. on the pathway across from the Hannaford Plaza and the walk & run will take place at 1 p.m. The whole family is invited for a leisurely walk or to enter the timed 5K run. This will be a special day to remember and honor loved ones lost to or having survived a brain aneurysm.

September is Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month. Join us as we “share our tears, remember with love, walk & run to honor”those families affected by this silent killer and help save lives!

For more information:
VISIT: MaineBA.org  |  LIKE: on Facebook  |  FOLLOW: on Twitter

The Tin

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Last year before Dave and I left for England and eventually Scotland, my sister Dori sent me a very colorful little metal tin in the mail. Inside it was a wonderful note and two $50 bills for me to spend. I did take those $50 bills with me and I did spend them. Unfortunately, I was unable to tell her what I bought because she suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm while we were in London. We cut our trip short to rush back home to be with her. She never woke up.

So, it was with a heavy heart, but very fond memories that I actually took the tin Dori sent me to Scotland with us last month and I picked up some pieces of Scotland to put into the tin in her honor and bring them back. Once I told Helen about this, she was terrific in picking up some small things for me to include as mementos.

Silve Sands of MorarWe gathered some small seashells and one connected shell that won’t fit in the tin, but it survived the flight and has a place of honor. Helen picked up a sort of pussy willow and a tiny blue flower that didn’t do so well on the trip, but it’s included. I also brought home some of the pretty white sand from the Silver Sands of Morar.

Dori's' TinI’m not sure why I did it, but I just felt it was a way to have Dori with me on the trip and to bring her back some kind of souvenir. However silly it may seem to others, it had great meaning to me and I’m really glad I have those with me now in that colorful tin that Dori took the time, when she was battling back surgery and in great pain, to send me.

Annual Angiogram

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Last week was my annual angiogram to check on my large, 20-coiled annie and see how the smaller aneurysm that was discovered in 2011 is coming long.

As usual, it’s an apprehensive time. Even though I have felt fine, one just never knows if the coils have compressed again or the size and shape of either aneurysm has dramatically changed…even though it has only been one year since my last checkup.

Thankfully, at the follow-up appointment two days later, Dr. Ecker said the large aneurysm looks very good. The stent and additional coils that were added two years ago are doing their job…keeping blood from getting back into the aneurysm. He also said there were no NEW aneurysms anywhere else. Great news.

The smaller aneurysm has grown a little bit. It’s not a cause for alarm…yet, but the fact I’ve already ruptured once and it’s at an odd spot on the artery AND has a wide neck indicates to the doc we’ll have to start considering doing something about it. Not immediately, but at some point….while I’m still relatively young – and that’s not much longer! LOL

Even though coiling is the least invasive procedure, I have since learned there CAN be complications and it needs to be monitored more frequently. Clipping is far more invasive, and in my mind more dangerous, but it’s a far more permanent treatment. I need to do more research and ask some people, but I’m starting to lean more in that direction. I could care less about a scare on my head, but it’s the danger involved in the procedure and the recovery period afterwards should there be any complications during the process that concern me.

As usual, the staff in the Maine Medical Center radiology & neuro-endovascular teams were top notch and provided great care. We had a long wait as there was an emergency stroke case that was brought in that needed Dr. Ecker’s care, but everyone was great and I had no residual pain or major discomfort after the procedure. Thank you everyone! Here’s hoping I don’t see any of you for awhile!

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