More than 600 people, including some brain aneurysm survivors and their friends and families, participated in the North Shore LIJ's third annual Brain Aneurysm Awareness Walk on Saturday at Jones Beach.
The event was co-sponsored by the Brain Aneurysm Center of the North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Cushing Neuroscience Institute, along with the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. Approximately $60,000 raised from the walk was donated to the BAF to support essential research that may directly benefit those affected and help to reduce the incidence of ruptured aneurysms. Many doctors, nurses and staff members from Brain Aneurysm Center at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, came to the event to show their support of the many patients they have treated over the years. Among the physicians present were David Chalif, MD and Avi Setton, MD, co-directors of NSUH’s Brain Aneurysm Center. “One of the goals of this event is to increase awareness about the warning signs of a brain aneurysm,” said Dr. Chalif. “The symptoms can include severe headache, nausea, blurred or double vision, stiff neck or neck pain, pain above or behind the eye, and loss of sensation.” One of the brain aneurysm survivors honored at the walk was 24 yr old Christelle Petit-Homme from Westbury, NY. Christelle explained to the crowd that in March 2011, she experienced excruciating headaches that got progressively worse over time. She went to her primary care physician who referred her to a neurologist for an MRI. Much to her surprise, Christelle was told that she had a brain aneurysm the size of a golf ball and was immediately transferred to the emergency room at NSUH. Dr. Chalif was able to surgically clip the aneurysm, closing off blood flow. At the walk, Christelle thanked Dr. Chalif and his staff for saving her life.
“Christelle is a perfect example of a patient who had a warning sign of a brain aneurysm and sought immediate medical attention,” said Dr. Chalif. “We were able to treat her before the aneurysm ruptured and now she is able to live a normal and healthy life.”
