Lisa Colagrossi Foundation

The Lisa Colagrossi Foundation is a private funder of brain aneurysm programs focused in the areas of awareness, education, research and support throughout the United States. Her story inspired me to do more regarding bringing awareness regarding this silent killer. I have started writing a book regarding my own experience after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm on Nov 21st 2014. 'In a Blink of an Eye'
here is my story:
Who knew that one day I would be busy
> at work excited for the weekend and sign off my computer.
> I get in my 1964 VW and head home.............
>
> Incidentally I had just returned to Seattle from Daytona Beach
> FL where I met my three other sisters. Our 90 year old
> father Donald R Arnold passed away. Our 90 year old mother
> was alone
> in the house they shared. My father was a WWII veteran US
> Navy in a submarine. He was my hero. It had only been a
> few days since I was back and I was excited to relax over
> the weekend.
> As I was driving down C St in Auburn WA from the call center I work at all of a sudden BOOM it happened, something was in my head making a horrible
> noise. I thought at first it was my stick shift in my bug I started trying to adjust it however it wasn't that. Than the worse pain in the back of my neck shot up like a shouting star to my head and than the pain in my head I screamed and kept saying 'What's wrong with me to myself' as I drove I realized it was worse
> so I stop my car at the intersection where I was about to turn on and sat there crying in horrible pain worst in my life. I tried to to call my ex mother in law where I live in WA and
> work my home is in Portland with my partner of 14 years
> Michelle. I cried she yelled 'What's wrong what's wrong' I realize the
> pain was to bad to continue talking. I got out of my car
> and hailed down the person behind me to call 911. Later I
> learned his name is Robert, he yelled back at me 'what is it how can i help I said call 911 something is horribly wrong with my head I have the worse headache ever (I knew at that time it wasn't just a headache) He said he would, I heard him tell 911 my condition, than I wanted to threw up. I cried and cried in pain. Begged my father who is now in heaven to help me out I was scared alone and in grave condition. Than I saw the flashing red lights and as I closed my eyes I saw bright light like I never seen before, as I think about it I truly believe my father intervene, that bright light was from him he must have told God 'not yet don't bring her home yet' my wife, her mother would be devasted. Two individuals came up to me as I sat in my little bug and asked me tell them what was happening. Just like above I shared about the scary horrible pain in my head. They took my vitals
> and my Blood pressure was 212/118 pulse was 98. I also was in incontinent d They told me they would get me help however
> I had to be taken to the hospital. While laying in the
> ambulance they took my vitals again no change. I could hear them talking to someone on the radio
> and it turned out to be the local hospital however they had
> to call the paramedic to take me to a Trauma Center in
> Seattle WA Harborview Medical center.
>The paramedics arrived and spoke with the medics. When I
> had to be transported to the other ambulance I told them I
> had o threw up and I did......after that I don't remember
> the ride almost 30 mins away I don't remember the ER or anything until I woke up in ICU. I had stables in my head and my partner Michelle was beside my bed. She said my ex mother in law called her and said i was in a accident She explained slowly what had happened to me I had a SAH of my brain and they clipped the rupture one and another they found. I had no idea what she was talking about. I had tubes, needles sticking every where. There was drain in my head to remove the blood from my brain. Michelle gave me my cell phone so I could take a look at myself on my cell phone. All I remember was what I stated above. Slowly the Nero team came into to see me. They work through the U of Washington in Seattle there were residents interns and of course my surgeon. They smiled and explained what Michelle had shared with me. Told me to be prepared for additional test while in ICU. The nurses were great they were just a shout away and a press of my call button. My surgeon explained I had stay in ICU for two weeks and that I was in serious condition, later I learned most with my condition died when it happens or on the way to the hospital. I had 50/50 chance of living however
> they assured me that they were there to HELP me. Their
> words encourage me there was HOPE there was no way I was going to die.