“I have the headache of my life!” August 28, 2012, was a day I will never forget. A vein had ruptured in my brain. Through the fog I heard the words brain aneurysm. I was diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage –bleeding on the brain. A team of superb neurosurgeons performed the emergency procedure that saved my life. My recovery took some time. Everything I thought to be me was nearly gone. I exhibited significant physical and cognitive deficits -the loss of use of my right hand, partial mobility to walk independently, inability to understand simple commands. Most days’ extreme fatigue and pain kept me bedridden. Many months later I remembered a close friend saying, “Now you know what it feels like to be old.” Thanks to the many kind and compassionate certified nursing assistants who took care of all my needs – driving me to physical, occupational, and cognitive therapy appointments, cooking meals, bathing me, and sitting with me for hours sometimes just holding my hands. I knew everything would be all right. They gave me back my independence. Even through the darkest times, underneath it all, I never gave in or gave up. Now my future seems brighter than ever. I prioritize the most important things in my life. Above all else, my family comes first. I now listen to my body, take breaks and enjoy the “new and improved me”. I have a renewed purpose in life. My passion is to help those who feel vulnerable in times of illness or old age. This is just the beginning of my story.