In 2023, Stephanie’s life changed in an instant. 

“I had a lightning headache, and I don’t suffer from headaches, so my husband took me to the emergency room where we explained to them that I don’t usually suffer from headaches, and this is very odd.” Despite expressing her concerns, Stephanie didn’t receive the urgent care she needed. “I was seen by a doctor, wasn’t seen by a neurosurgeon, didn’t get a CT, didn’t get an MRI, and waited in the waiting room for 11 hours and was sent home with Endo.” 

Two weeks later, while at work, Stephanie collapsed. Her colleagues performed CPR on the side of the road before she was rushed back to hospital. This time, imaging revealed what had been missed before. “They discovered that I had a ruptured brain aneurysm. I was in a coma for three weeks. ICU for four weeks, and then I was moved up to the Neuro Ward where I spent six weeks.” 

A brain aneurysm is a weak spot in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain that balloons out and fills with blood. Often, aneurysms don’t cause symptoms until they rupture, when they do, it’s a medical emergency. A ruptured aneurysm causes bleeding in the brain, which can lead to a stroke, brain damage, or death. 

Road to recovery 

Stephanie then began a long road to recovery. She was transferred to Mount Druitt Hospital for inpatient rehabilitation and spent 17 more weeks in outpatient physio and occupational therapy, slowly rebuilding her independence and strength. “My physios at Richburg Hospital, one particular physio, was amazing. She went above and beyond for me. I guess you don’t really see many 27-year-olds with a ruptured brain aneurysm.” 

Throughout her recovery, Stephanie’s husband and family were by her side every step of the way. “He was out of this world,” she says of her husband. “Just having my family around was so supportive because I couldn’t drive, my sister took time out of her days to drive me to work or the physio. She would keep me company.” 

Life after a brain injury 

Stephanie’s recovery has been both physical and neurological. The rupture caused brain damage in her frontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and impulse control. “Making decisions is impacted. I’m very impatient, I have a minimal attention span, and I am very impulsive now.” 

“I’m more aware of it now, which helps me a lot, because at work I was saying very inappropriate things and my boss said, ‘Look, you are saying inappropriate things,’ and brought it to my attention.” “My social cues are lacking, but they are better now, it’s been a long journey.” 

There were also visible changes. Stephanie underwent surgery to remove part of her skull, which meant she had to wear a helmet for nine months. “People would say, ‘Did you ride your bike here, sweetheart?’ and I’d be like, ‘No, I had brain surgery.’ Don’t ask, obviously, I’m walking around with a helmet.” 

Despite the challenges, Stephanie showed her incredible strength and was able to lean on the support around her. ” There is some significant brain damage, but I am learning to work through it and do anything in my power to get back to ‘normal life’ or how my life looked like before the aneurysm ruptured.” This past year brought incredible joy into her and her husband’s world,  

“Now we have a little baby who is the light of our lives.”