Shanice

Aneurysm and brain haemorrhage survivor

Shanice survived not only a brain haemorrhage; this was the result of a life threatening aneurysm which was hiding in her brain.

Shanice had just arrived in Adelaide with her family moving here to live from Singapore.

Looking forward to her new home she started at her new school. Shanice was 12 years old and full of excitement and hope.

On her second day at her new school she passed out and fell to the ground. Once she came too she had lost the ability communicate. The school acted swiftly and most probably saved her life by sending her straight to the Women’s and Children’s hospital for a check.

Shanice had a scan which showed the life threatening brain haemorrhage which also revealed an even bigger silent killer, an aneurysm. Shanice was lucky to have staff operate so quickly to clip her aneurysms. Today only 1 in 2 people survive with aneurysms. They are silent deadly conditions. The majority of brain aneurysms have no symptoms.

Aneurysms are extremely rare in children. Many aneurysms are fatal and successful early neurosurgery within the first 72 hours produces good results.

Shanice spent 31 days in hospital and had two major procedures to clip her aneurysms to ensure that she can go on and live a full life with no worries. Shanice is currently studying at Flinders University to become a Paramedic.

Shanice and her family are most grateful to the swift action of the school and neurosurgical staff which ensured their move to Australia did start with a tragedy.

Shanice and her family have become Ambassadors for the Neurosurgical Research Foundation, sharing their lifesaving experience to raise money for children’s neurosurgical research which will ensure more children’s lives are saved.