Jose, Brain Aneurysm Survivor

On August 17, 2022, I got home from work & had plans to go out for dinner. I went to the shower, & from there, my life completely changed. How I remember, I felt my body shutting down & me saying out loud, “God, NOT ME!” while passing out. During my unconscious state I can hear from faraway my wife’s voice screaming & crying. And all I can think about is needing to get to her. I then regained consciousness & yelled “I’m taking a shower” her response was that I had fallen & needed to open the locked door. I open my eyes, realized I was on the floor feeling a sudden pain in my head. My wife had already made the 911 call which I was taken to a local hospital, I got a CT scan because of the fall & hit in my head but little that I know, it was something more serious. As soon as the doctor saw the brain bleed and swelling, I was life flighted to the Medical Center in Houston, TX for emergency surgery. I had never felt so afraid & worried about what could happen next. I was admitted to the Neuroscience ICU. I had multiple procedures, surgeries & a VP shunt placed. During those 15 days in the ICU, my hope & faith never left me. I prayed & talked to God all day, every day. Following my discharge, I only attended physical therapy to help me regain my strength. During the recovery, I encountered several setbacks, but with determination & perseverance, I eventually return to my day-to-day activities. Today, 2 yrs after the aneurysm rupture, I continue to live a full life with minimal effects. I’m so thankful for the Neuro ICU team, my family & friends who helped & supported. Especially to my wife, that I call “my angel” for being there at the right moment & acted quickly. Also, the faith of the people that surrounded me saved me. I’m a living testimony of God’s grace & sharing my survival story can bring inspiration to others.

Before connecting with The Niekro Foundation, I assumed I was a healthy person who didn’t have any health problems or had experienced any of the symptoms. I didn’t know ruptured brain aneurysms existed and its factors.  The Niekro Foundation has benefitted me by serving as a valuable source of information and connecting me with other survivors.

My words of hope for others are that you’re not alone and God is always listening!

                              

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To highlight our impact and convey our mission with clarity, we are excited to announce that the Joe Niekro Foundation is now the Niekro Aneurysm and AVM Foundation. We look forward to building on the Niekro legacy and continuing our mission!
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