A MESSAGE FROM Sam Nagourney's fundraiser for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation
I have fond childhood memories traversing NY's streets with my sister Beth and her kids many Novembers to watch my brother-in-law Blair run the New York City marathon. I always wanted to follow in his footsteps, and now, I have the opportunity thanks to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation.
This is an incredibly personal story for me. This past February, we lost my cousin David Nagourney to a brain aneurysm. He had just turned 58 years old and was months away from retiring to spend more time with the love of his life Naomi and their wonderful nine-year old daughter Jordan. David was a source of wisdom, thoughtfulness, and great insight. I miss being able to ask him for advice. Whether it was about a job opportunity or my love life, he would offer even-minded counsel.
On Christmas Day 2019, my sister Beth was out with her neurologist husband Blair and her medical student daughter Hannah when she suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm herself. It's thanks to the quick thinking of Blair, Hannah, and the staff at Columbia Presbyterian that she has recovered and continues to be the Clinical Director of the NICU at Jacobi Medical Center. I am thankful every day that we didn't lose her.
And, of course, there is my original inspiration Blair Ford. Blair was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2014. Blair knew his outlook was bleak. Survival rates for GBM are 12-18 months, but he managed to live another 7 years after his diagnosis before passing away at 61. We feel his absence at every holiday and family event.
1 in 50 people in the U.S. have an unruptured brain aneurysm. A brain aneurysm ruptures every 18 minutes. Early detection is critical as most brain aneurysms are treatable.
Please support my fundraising goal for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, so we help develop interventions and raise awareness to help the millions of people at risk.
And if that doesn't move you, please donate so I never have to run this race again. Because unlike Blair, I'm not crazy enough to run the NYC marathon multiple times.
The Brain Aneurysm Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit. Your contribution is tax deductible.
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