# My brother had a brain aneurysm and stroke and is in ICU **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 12, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600 "2014-01-12T19:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/1 "2014-01-12T19:27:04Z")
He’s awake and aware, in critical but stable condition. My father died of a stroke, in the crawlspace of my parents’ house. This brother is the one who crawled in and dragged his body out. He seemed dazed for hours after that. I will always remember the look on his face. This is my oldest brother, who taught me how to read by sitting me on his lap at the dining room table and reading book after book to me while running his finger under the words. He’s the oldest of six. He takes that seriously. He would do anything for you. He’s an engineer. He loves to build things and to tinker and to invent. He loves to spout right-wing bullshit. He’s frustrating and funny, obnoxious and terribly kind. Married for 29 years to a very nice woman. They have two kids. I’m going to lose him someday, and I am not ready and never will be ready. Sorry, I just had to share. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/2 "2014-01-12T19:34:25Z")
I am so sorry to hear your news, I hope everything goes well for him . Sending good thoughts his way, and your way . ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/3 "2014-01-12T19:39:59Z")
How horrible. Sending good thoughts for a quick and full recovery. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/4 "2014-01-12T19:44:45Z")
Bright blessings to you and your’s **jsgoddess**. In the darkness, may you find light. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/5 "2014-01-12T22:13:35Z")
I’m so sorry to hear this. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/6 "2014-01-12T22:17:11Z")
I’m sending healing thoughts your way. I hope his recovery is swift and long lasting. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/7 "2014-01-13T00:27:08Z")
Sending you my hopes for a good recovery. Sending you my hugs because. {{jsgoddess}} ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/8 "2014-01-13T00:38:55Z")
Such horrible news. Thinking good thoughts for him and you, and hoping for good news. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/9 "2014-01-13T01:04:40Z")
“Awake and aware” sounds somewhat positive. Hoping he recovers and I’ll be thinking of your family. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/10 "2014-01-13T01:11:45Z")
I’m so sorry to hear that. Wishing your family the best. ETA: and please keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![nonacetone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonacetone/32/2819_2.png) [@nonacetone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nonacetone)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/11 "2014-01-13T01:19:37Z")
I’m so sorry. I wish him a full and speedy recovery. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/12 "2014-01-13T01:40:52Z")
Heartbreaking ☹ Peace be with you. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/13 "2014-01-13T03:15:35Z")
I’ll add my good wishes to the rest. I hope he has a quick recovery and that you won’t have to face this again for a long, long time. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/14 "2014-01-13T03:38:49Z")
The stable part sounds a bit promising, at least. Hopefully he rebounds quickly. Sending good thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/15 "2014-01-13T03:48:15Z")
Good luck to you. An aneurysm is what got my father. The doctor was careful to explain to us though that an aneurysm is the opposite of a stroke. Said aneurysms have no known links, not age, not smoking, blood pressure, nuttin’, just one of those things that can happen to anyone anytime. Seems an aneurysm is like a tire blowout, while a stroke is caused by the blood flow becoming restricted. This is all what the doctor told us. Be sure to consult closely with your brother’s doctor to find out exactly what to do post-care. ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/16 "2014-01-13T04:27:14Z")
jsgoddess - I am very sorry to hear this terrible news. Your love for your brother glows brightly in your post and I know how difficult this must be for you. My nephew had a similar event in his thirties. Things looked very bleak at first, with severe paralysis and impaired mental function. Progress was very slow, but he was determined to overcome his situation and worked very hard at it, doing hours of physical therapy everyday. Eventually (months to years later) he surprised all of us by learning to walk again. He can get anywhere now, a little slower than others, using only a cane. The prognosis for brain injury is hard for your brother’s doctors to estimate at this early stage, which makes dealing with his injury even more difficult; but there is plenty to hope for with the support of you and others who love him. Best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery and, if not that, for a return of your brother to his normal self, with only some physical limitations. ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/17 "2014-01-13T04:34:23Z")
I’m very sorry to hear about your brother. I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/18 "2014-01-13T05:59:25Z")
I’m sending thoughts and prayers for healing and recovery your way. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/19 "2014-01-13T08:30:50Z")
I’m sorry to read this. Best wishes for a good recovery. It may take weeks or months, but don’t lose hope. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600/20 "2014-01-13T11:33:13Z")
I’m sorry, **jsgoddess** , and hope your brother makes a full recovery in good time. He sounds like someone I’d love to meet. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-brother-had-a-brain-aneurysm-and-stroke-and-is-in-icu/678600.md?page=2)