Teen's Headache Reveals Deadly Brain Aneurysms

An 18-year-old named Caroline experienced a sudden, severe headache on Father's Day 2025, which rapidly progressed to vomiting and an inability to walk. Despite initial skepticism from a physician who treated it as a migraine, a second doctor ordered a CT scan that revealed bleeding in her brain, indicating a ruptured brain aneurysm. Caroline was transferred to the University of Maryland Medical Center, where she learned she had two brain aneurysms, one of which had ruptured, causing an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. This condition typically affects much older individuals, making her diagnosis unusual. Caroline underwent treatment for the ruptured aneurysm and later surgery to remove the second one, spending over three weeks in the hospital.

During her recovery, Caroline's family discovered a potential genetic link when they learned her paternal great-grandmother had an aneurysm in the 1960s. This led to genetic testing within the family. Caroline's mother was subsequently found to have two small aneurysms, which were surgically removed. Other family members are also undergoing testing. Caroline, now 20, has fully recovered and is pursuing her junior year at Bucknell University, competing in running. She is participating in a National Institutes of Health study to examine the long-term effects of aneurysms and strokes, providing valuable data on the brain's capacity for self-repair. She is also involved in research for aneurysm biomarkers and aspires to become a nurse anesthetist.