Aneurysm and AVM Foundation

Not Thursday again! 😩 Hang in there, y’all.

Introducing Rachel, the first interview of the series! She is a graduating senior at UC Berkley majoring in environmental engineering and will be continuing there to work on her Master's in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Rachel experienced a brain bleed from her AVM in Spring 2016 at a gymnastics practice. After recovery and neurosurgery, Rachel participated in the TAAF Walk and later joined as a youth and adult ambassador to spread Aneurysm and AVM Awareness.

Not every seizure is epilepsy. A sudden seizure, staring spell, or unexplained confusion can be a sign of hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke IS stroke. Don’t wait. Get scanned. #StrokeAwarenessMonth #HemorrhagicStrokeISStroke #HEADSCAN #BEFAST #DontWaitGetScanned #KnowTheSigns #BrainHealth #AneurysmAwareness #AVMAwareness #TAAF

May is Stroke Awareness Month! Watch my series of interviews each Wednesday with a teen stroke survivor and advocate, an adult stroke survivor and advocate, along with the Executive Director of The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation. They will share their story, advocacy, and how they turned their pain into power! Interview dates: 🗓️🎤 Wednesday, May 13 - Rachel Wednesday, May 20 - Greg Wednesday, May 27 - Dina #StrokeAwarenessMonth #GraduateSchool #AVMAwareness #EricaCarnegie #MissFloridaCollegiateAmerica

A dizzy spell may be your body signaling an emergency. Sudden dizziness, vertigo, or loss of balance—especially when paired with headache, vision changes, or weakness—can be a sign of hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke IS stroke. Don’t wait. Get scanned. #StrokeAwarenessMonth #HemorrhagicStrokeISStroke #HEADSCAN #BEFAST #DontWaitGetScanned #KnowTheSigns #BrainHealth #AneurysmAwareness #AVMAwareness #TAAF

We’re honored to partner with @ucsfneurosurgery to launch a new chapter of support for the aneurysm, AVM, and hemorrhagic stroke community. Starting this Thursday, May 14, The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation SF Bay Area Support Group at UCSF will meet monthly in San Francisco, creating an in-person space for survivors, caregivers, families, and those navigating diagnosis, recovery, or loss. For many years, TAAF’s support group was rooted at UCSF. When the pandemic told us we couldn’t be together, we built something new—an online support community that has since grown into the backbone of our programming, reaching people nationwide and across the globe. Returning to UCSF is not a replacement for that community. It’s an extension of it. A coming home. Hosted in partnership with UCSF and Christine Ainza, NP (Department of Neurological Surgery), this gathering reflects a shared belief that care and connection do not end when an appointment is over. This is also just the beginning. We hope this model becomes a template for bringing more in-person Brain Buddy opportunities to institutions and communities in the future. 🧠 The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation SF Bay Area Support Group at UCSF 📍 UCSF | 400 Parnassus Ave., 8th Floor, Room A-888 🗓 Second Thursdays | Beginning May 14 🕕 6–8 PM PDT RSVP Here → TAAFonline.org/Upcoming-Events #BrainAneurysm #AVM #HemorrhagicStroke #HHT #StrokeRecovery #SupportGroup #UCSF #TAAF #BrainBuddy

To every kind of mother, and to all who mother with love — we celebrate you today. 💛

Unexpected anxiety isn’t always emotional. And that difference matters. A sudden, intense feeling of panic, fear, or confusion can be an unexpected symptom of hemorrhagic stroke, often accompanying the classic “thunderclap” headache and other sudden neurological changes. Hemorrhagic stroke IS stroke. Don’t wait. Get scanned. #StrokeAwarenessMonth #HemorrhagicStrokeISStroke #HEADSCAN #BEFAST #DontWaitGetScanned #KnowTheSigns #BrainHealth #AneurysmAwareness #AVMAwareness #TAAF

Today we remember Elizabeth “Lisa” Hannegan. Lisa was a founder, nurse, mentor, leader, and beloved friend whose compassion helped shape TAAF from the very beginning. She built more than a support group — she helped create a community where patients and families could feel seen, supported, and less alone. Her absence is still deeply felt. Her impact is still everywhere. During #NationalNursesWeek, we honor Lisa by continuing her life’s work—showing up for survivors, patients, caregivers, and one another with compassion and care—and by advancing her legacy through the Lisa Hannegan Legacy of Care Research Grant, which supports cerebrovascular research rooted in her belief that how we care is as important as the science itself. To honor Lisa’s legacy, you can share her story, join a TAAF event in her memory, or make a gift in her honor to help continue the work she helped begin. We love you, Lisa. Your legacy continues. 💙 TAAFonline.kindful.com

Vision changes aren’t always what they seem. And that matters. Vision changes or sensitivity to light should never be ignored—especially when they come on SUDDENLY or alongside symptoms like headache or neck pain, as they may point to stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke IS stroke. Don’t wait. Get scanned. #StrokeAwarenessMonth #HemorrhagicStrokeISStroke #HEADSCAN #BEFAST #DontWaitGetScanned #KnowTheSigns #BrainHealth #AneurysmAwareness #AVMAwareness #TAAF

Not every headache is the same. And that matters. A sudden, severe headache—the worst of your life—can be a sign of hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic stroke IS stroke. Don’t wait. Get scanned. #StrokeAwarenessMonth #HemorrhagicStrokeISStroke #HEADSCAN #BEFAST #DontWaitGetScanned #KnowTheSigns #BrainHealth #AneurysmAwareness #AVMAwareness #TAAF

In a time when the future of research feels uncertain, one thing is still true: The force is strongest when we stand together. At TAAF, our community has always been the driving force behind life-saving research—patients, families, survivors, and supporters choosing to push forward, no matter the obstacles. Because of you, we’re preparing to announce our **2026 research grantees** later this month. This work only continues because people like you choose to be part of it. Today, we’re inviting you to join the alliance. ⚡ Use your force for good ⚡ Fuel the fight for answers ⚡ Help us move research forward 🔗 Donate: taafonline.kindful.com (or visit the link in our bio) May the 4th be with you. 💛 #MayThe4th #StrokeAwarenessMonth #BrainAneurysm #AVM #Stroke #ResearchMatters