"Be Aware"

My name is Gina Payne, and I was diagnosed with a Cerebral Aneurysm in April 2008. I went to the doctor with an ailment and he recommended a CT scan be performed to see what was going on. I remember the day I was diagnosed -- I had no symptoms so you can imagine my shock and fright.

So many things were running through my head. How was I going to live with this thing in my head knowing there was no guarantee rupture would not occur? How did it get there? And As always, Why me ??????

Well, I believe everything happens for a reason and soon it would become clear what mine was; all my questions suddenly had answers to them. How was I going to Live with this ? Day by day , how else .... How did it get there ? Soon after I was diagnosed, I found out that you are at risk if you have a family history of aneurysms. Years ago, my late Aunt suffered from a ruptured aneurysm that left her with many disabilities; I had forgotten how she had gotten that way until a family member reminded me. How could they know I was at risk if they didn't even know they were at risk?

While every medical history form I completed over the years asked what I had a history of, aneurysms were never mentioned.

And why me? To educate, to make people aware of their family history, to let people know that, “yes”, Brain Aneurysms can be a genetic disorder

I'm one of the lucky ones -- my aneurysm was found on accident, not after rupture. I'm not going to lie. It did take a little getting used to and always will be a concern. I just want people to be aware -- to know when they need to be tested – they need to know their family history !!!

"Tell your family physician if you have a family history even if it isn't on the medical question form."

My aneurysm is small so it is recommended that we watch it right now with repeat CT angiograms every six months rather than surgery. Be like me, one of the lucky ones who has been given the chance to watch it !!!!!