Cerebral Cavernous Malformation- The Impact on the Brain

 By Tara O'Brien

For 23 years, Briana Heaney suffered uncomfortably, especially the past two years, with headaches and vision changes, not knowing why until a few weeks ago.  

 She said she suffered multiple headaches daily, often severe migraines, blurry vision and fatigue most days of the week. Nothing she did seemed to help.  

“I decided to cut out foods that were not gluten free, because I had read that gluten intolerance can create anxiety, brain fog, and throbbing pain in your head, and that was everything that I was experiencing,” said Heaney.  

Heaney began to work out more, sleep more and create an extremely healthy diet. She began to really fix the controllable things before she began to think it was her job playing a role into her pain.  

Heaney, who graduated in 2021 with a bachelor and master’s degree in accounting, worked long hours at an accounting firm and wondered if that was the problem.  

“Working so much, looking at two to three computers screens, as while as my own phone, I figured I was burnt out or had no passion for this. I was working over ten hours day and would log on to work on the most Saturday and Sundays. I knew that I had to work these hours, but I always felt so off I figured it was my job,” said Heaney. 

Heaney went to get medically checked out, but the doctors thought she was fine and were not overly concerned. Heaney was reassured but began to cut down on her hours thinking that would help.  

Then, Heaney’s life changed. One Sunday morning, she was rushed to the hospital after suffering from a seizure. That morning Heaney was with four of her best friends when she began to feel lightheaded, anxious and then she was rushed to the nearest hospital.  

“I woke up vomiting in an ambulance with people all surrounded around me calling my name “Briana, Briana, Briana” I was so confused,” said Heaney. 

Heaney was in the hospital for one week and had numerous tests done. The doctors discovered Heaney had Cerebral Cavernous Malformation, which is a collection of small blood vessels in the central nervous system that is irregular in the brain. It is like a small mulberry on the inside of her left brain that was bleeding. Doctors told her she was born with this and that was what caused, head pains, blurriness, and the seizure. 

But for Heaney, the reality of it did not hit until later. 

“I only processed everything when I got home, I had not slept in days. Doctors and nurses were in and out each day while I was in the emergency room, when I got home, I realized how lucky I am to still be here,” said Heaney. 

Heaney is now relaxing for the next couple of months until her next doctor’s visit. She said she is nervous but at the same time excited to get it removed. 

She said the experience changed her perspective on life. 

“You never know in life what can happen, one night I am over the moon with my friends and then the next morning I am in the ER. At the end of the day nothing matters but your health. Everything could have been worse; I am thanking for my friends who helped save me and for my family who was there for me the whole week. I am so happy to be home,” said Heaney. 

Heaney said she has found her passion and a mission after she gets surgery on her brain. Heaney wants to do more research on CCM and help others prevent the way she found out she had this in her brain 

“I am so lucky to be alive today and want to encourage more people to get MIRs to check out their brains. Although this happened to me a few weeks ago I feel my purpose in life and my mission is to help others,” said Heaney.