Lori’s Story
What started as an early Christmas holiday get together, unfolded into the unexpected.
Celebrating with family in Pulaski, Lori went outside and was later found on the ground. Her family called 9-1-1 and as chance would have it, an ambulance was nearby and they brought Lori to HSHS St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay.
Lori and her husband, Jon were met by Dr. Alison Meyer, Prevea Neurointerventional Surgeon, and HSHS St. Vincent Hospital’s neurointerventional team. Lori suffered a brain aneurysm, which is a weak spot in an artery in the brain that forms a little bubble or bulge. Aneurysms are typically measured in millimeters but in this instance, Lori’s measured 2.1 centimeters, which is about the size of a peanut.
Jon shared, “Dr. Meyer reviewed Lori’s CT scans and she was very thorough in her description of the situation. I felt comfortable when she explained what needed to be done.”
As the team was preparing for surgery, Lori’s aneurysm ruptured. Requiring immediate care to stabilize the bleeding, the team rushed to the operating room. During the nearly four-hour procedure, Dr. Meyer inserted metal coils into the aneurysm to stop the brain bleed and reduce the risk of another.
“When Dr. Meyer let me know that everything went as well as it could, I thought, ‘Everything is in God’s hands. Thank God, Lori made it through,” Jon reflected.
“She had to relearn how to do everything. Lori couldn’t read, walk or even open a deck of cards,” said Jon. “I wanted to see what the therapists were doing – from occupational, physical to speech – so I could help Lori do it at home.”
In March 2023, Lori underwent a second procedure in which Dr. Meyer put a stent in the affected artery. The stent, in addition to 10 more metal coils, helped continue diverting blood flow away from the aneurysm. Six months later, Lori had a third procedure to monitor the stent.
“Dr. Meyer is truly amazing. Every step of this procedure, she told me what I would be feeling. To distract me, she talked to me about her family. The team asked me to pick out music to listen to and Dr. Meyer sang along. She made me feel so at ease,” Lori shared.
In February 2024, Lori’s vision, headaches and feelings of dizziness were worsening. Dr. Meyer performed a fourth procedure to put a balloon in the stent to ensure the blood flow was circulating properly. Not only did this improve Lori’s feelings of dizziness and headaches, but it helped break up some of the scar tissue in the surrounding area.
Dr. Meyer and team believe the aneurysm had been there for a while and recent, circumstantial stressors Lori experienced likely caused it to rupture. Dr. Meyer warmly refers to Lori as her “Christmas miracle of 2022” as Lori’s initial survival rate was 5%.
“Dr. Meyer saved my life,” shared Lori. “If it wasn’t for her or her team, I would not be here today.”
The aneurysm left side effects such as permanent damage in the front right lobe (causing memory loss), optic nerve damage in her right eye and loss of peripheral vision in both eyes. To this day, Lori doesn’t drive but is hoping that will change as she progresses in her recovery.
“This is not an experience I’d ever want to go through again, but it was as good as it could be. Dr. Meyer and her team were as concerned about me as they were Lori,” said Jon. “We were lucky to be at the right place at the right time: the fact that we were in Pulaski but brought to Green Bay; Dr. Meyer happened to be on call; and Lori’s treatment happened to be Dr. Meyer’s specialty.”
While Lori credits Dr. Meyer for saving her life, Jon has helped her live her life. Married for 32 years, he has been by her side every step of the way. Lori reflected, “We have always been close. We do a lot more together now. After this experience of a 5% survival rate, it woke both of us up. I am very blessed and thankful to be here.”
Celebrating with family in Pulaski, Lori went outside and was later found on the ground. Her family called 9-1-1 and as chance would have it, an ambulance was nearby and they brought Lori to HSHS St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay.
Lori and her husband, Jon were met by Dr. Alison Meyer, Prevea Neurointerventional Surgeon, and HSHS St. Vincent Hospital’s neurointerventional team. Lori suffered a brain aneurysm, which is a weak spot in an artery in the brain that forms a little bubble or bulge. Aneurysms are typically measured in millimeters but in this instance, Lori’s measured 2.1 centimeters, which is about the size of a peanut.
Jon shared, “Dr. Meyer reviewed Lori’s CT scans and she was very thorough in her description of the situation. I felt comfortable when she explained what needed to be done.”
As the team was preparing for surgery, Lori’s aneurysm ruptured. Requiring immediate care to stabilize the bleeding, the team rushed to the operating room. During the nearly four-hour procedure, Dr. Meyer inserted metal coils into the aneurysm to stop the brain bleed and reduce the risk of another.
“When Dr. Meyer let me know that everything went as well as it could, I thought, ‘Everything is in God’s hands. Thank God, Lori made it through,” Jon reflected.
Road to recovery
Lori spent the next four weeks in the hospital, three of which were in the intensive care unit.“She had to relearn how to do everything. Lori couldn’t read, walk or even open a deck of cards,” said Jon. “I wanted to see what the therapists were doing – from occupational, physical to speech – so I could help Lori do it at home.”
In March 2023, Lori underwent a second procedure in which Dr. Meyer put a stent in the affected artery. The stent, in addition to 10 more metal coils, helped continue diverting blood flow away from the aneurysm. Six months later, Lori had a third procedure to monitor the stent.
“Dr. Meyer is truly amazing. Every step of this procedure, she told me what I would be feeling. To distract me, she talked to me about her family. The team asked me to pick out music to listen to and Dr. Meyer sang along. She made me feel so at ease,” Lori shared.
In February 2024, Lori’s vision, headaches and feelings of dizziness were worsening. Dr. Meyer performed a fourth procedure to put a balloon in the stent to ensure the blood flow was circulating properly. Not only did this improve Lori’s feelings of dizziness and headaches, but it helped break up some of the scar tissue in the surrounding area.
5% chance of survival
Like Lori, most people do not experience symptoms with an unruptured aneurysm. Aneurysm can be caused by a variety of risk factors including family history or genetics, smoking and high blood pressure.Dr. Meyer and team believe the aneurysm had been there for a while and recent, circumstantial stressors Lori experienced likely caused it to rupture. Dr. Meyer warmly refers to Lori as her “Christmas miracle of 2022” as Lori’s initial survival rate was 5%.
“Dr. Meyer saved my life,” shared Lori. “If it wasn’t for her or her team, I would not be here today.”
The aneurysm left side effects such as permanent damage in the front right lobe (causing memory loss), optic nerve damage in her right eye and loss of peripheral vision in both eyes. To this day, Lori doesn’t drive but is hoping that will change as she progresses in her recovery.
“This is not an experience I’d ever want to go through again, but it was as good as it could be. Dr. Meyer and her team were as concerned about me as they were Lori,” said Jon. “We were lucky to be at the right place at the right time: the fact that we were in Pulaski but brought to Green Bay; Dr. Meyer happened to be on call; and Lori’s treatment happened to be Dr. Meyer’s specialty.”
While Lori credits Dr. Meyer for saving her life, Jon has helped her live her life. Married for 32 years, he has been by her side every step of the way. Lori reflected, “We have always been close. We do a lot more together now. After this experience of a 5% survival rate, it woke both of us up. I am very blessed and thankful to be here.”