What did Mandy Park describe as the onset of her brain aneurysm?

Mandy Park described the onset of her brain aneurysm as a sudden, severe headache that felt like someone hit her on the head with a hammer.

What is a subarachnoid hemorrhage?

A subarachnoid hemorrhage is a dangerous form of stroke caused by a ruptured brain aneurysm, leading to bleeding around the brain.

What is the difference between a migraine and a thunderclap headache?

A thunderclap headache signifies a need for emergency care and can be life-threatening, unlike a migraine which does not typically lead to death.

Home / Health / Nurse's 'Hammer Blow' Headache Was Life-Threatening Aneurysm

Nurse's 'Hammer Blow' Headache Was Life-Threatening Aneurysm

28 Jan

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Summary

A sudden severe headache felt like a hammer blow, signaling a brain bleed.
Mandy Park experienced an out-of-body sensation before collapsing.
Being in a hospital saved her life due to rapid medical intervention.

Nurse's 'Hammer Blow' Headache Was Life-Threatening Aneurysm

On April 24, 2025, nurse Mandy Park experienced a sudden, severe headache that felt like being hit by a hammer, followed by an out-of-body sensation. She realized this was a ruptured brain aneurysm, a dangerous subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Park was fortunate to be at work in a hospital when the event occurred, allowing for rapid medical intervention. After collapsing and losing consciousness, she woke in the emergency department. Doctors performed a five-hour surgery to insert clips and stop blood flow, requiring 52 staples to close her skull.

Discharged nine days later, Park faced a long recovery marked by extreme fatigue, short-term memory loss, and weight loss. She continues therapy for PTSD and has not returned to her previous hospital ward.