Welcome to brain aneurysm awareness month! For the month of September, Making Headway Podcast and the The Bee Foundation have partnered to provide a month of episodes exploring resources for brain aneurysm survivors and caregivers. We will also be featuring more great survivor stories and advice. Today’s episode speaks with Erin Kreszel and Christine Kondra who have dedicated themselves to raising awareness, support, education, advocacy and policymaking after losing a family member to a ruptured brain aneurysm. They also have rock star support groups free for caregivers and survivors. Be sure to check out this episode and their website www.thebeefoundation.org.

Summary

Erin Kreszel and Christine Kondra from the Bee Foundation discuss their work in aneurysm awareness, advocacy, research, and policy making. They share their personal experiences and the motivation behind starting the foundation. They explain the different treatment options for brain aneurysms, such as clipping and coiling, and the importance of early detection and prevention. They emphasize the need for education and awareness, as well as the role of support groups for survivors and caregivers. The Bee Foundation also advocates for more research funding and policy changes to improve aneurysm care.

Keywords

aneurysm, awareness, advocacy, research, prevention, treatment options, support groups, education, early detection, prevention, funding, policy changes

Takeaways

· The Bee Foundation focuses on aneurysm awareness, advocacy, research, and policy making.

· Early detection and prevention are crucial in preventing aneurysm ruptures.

· Treatment options for brain aneurysms include clipping and coiling.

· Advocacy efforts are needed to improve education, support, and access to care for aneurysm patients and their families.

· Support groups play a vital role in providing community and resources for survivors and caregivers.

· More research funding and policy changes are needed to advance aneurysm care and prevention.

Sound Bites

"We didn't want another family to go through what we went through with this experience and started the Bee Foundation with the sole focus of preventing aneurysms prior to rupture."

"What should we be asking for in terms of prevention? And then what is it that they do? Like we hear these terms coil, we hear snipping, we hear, you know, clipping."

"Advocate for yourself because there is evidence out there that it's genetic and right now the insurance says two or more people and you can get an MRA to look for an aneurysm but we know if you have one person in your family you should be advocating to get an MRA, there's no reason to wait for two."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of the Bee Foundation

03:11 Preventing Aneurysms Prior to Rupture

07:50 Understanding Treatment Options: Clipping and Coiling

13:19 Advocating for Education, Support, and Access to Care

19:04 The Power of Support Groups for Survivors and Caregivers

26:38 The Need for More Research Funding and Policy Changes

Reach out to:

www.thebeefoundation.org for support groups

https://www.thebeefoundation.org/advocacy-toolkit/: Ellie’s law advocacy

The Bee Foundation on IG: