Jones runs to make others aware of a silent, deadly condition

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    People run races for a number of causes, but Gwen Jones of Houlton dedicated a September race to a condition she has been living with every day.
    On Sept. 15 in Portland, Jones ran a 5K race called “KAT-Walk & Karo-5K” for brain aneurysm awareness.
    “I was diagnosed with an unruptured brain aneurysm nine years ago during my first semester of college,” said Jones. “I had a  CAT scan done for an unrelated issue and the aneurysm was found ‘by accident.’”
Contributed photograph
PORTLAND 5K — Running the 5K Portland “KAT-Walk & Karo-5K” for brain aneurysm awareness were, from left, Gwen Jones, her father Dana Jones and Niki Bennick.
    Jones recalled Dr. Maraya telling her and her parents what the scan had shown and the only treatment was surgery.
    “I didn’t fully understand the seriousness of what was happening until I met with the neurosurgeon in Bangor,” explained Jones.  “I vividly remember asking him, ‘What happens if the aneurysm ruptures?’ His response was direct and free of ‘sugar coating.’ ‘It will be catastrophic.’”
    Jones underwent an aneurysm clipping surgery.
    “The doctor opened the skull and placed a metal clip at the neck of the aneurysm,” explained Jones.
    Jones recovered from the surgery, returned to school and graduated as a registered nurse.
    “I am forever thankful to Dr. Maraya; my surgeon Dr. Dennis Shubert, and the nurses who supported me during a very scary time in my life,” Jones said. “Had the aneurysm not been found, my story may have been much different.”
    Jones ran the “KAT-Walk & Karo-5K” along with 120 other racers and another 200 walkers and supporters.
    The race was started by Dave McCausland after he had lost his niece and sister-in-law to ruptured brain aneurysms, along with his wife who suffered a brain aneurysm, but survived. The annual race is held in memory of another young woman from the Portland area, who died of a brain aneurysm.
    “Dave organizes the event in hopes of raising money for brain aneurysm awareness,” said Jones. “It was a true honor to be able to run the race.”
    When Jones arrived at the race, there was a board of names of those connected to the race, who have been affected by a brain aneurysm. Her father, Dana, mentioned that there were only about four survivors present at the run, Jones being one.
    “Sadly, many names were posted by families who had lost a loved one,” she said. “How blessed I am that my heading read ‘In honor of’ instead of ‘In Memory of.’”
    One out of 50 people in the United States has a brain aneurysm, a silent killer, which often presents with no prior symptoms or whose symptoms are often ignored or misdiagnosed.
    A brain aneurysm is a weak bulging spot on the wall of a brain artery very much like a thin balloon or weak spot on an inner tube. Aneurysms form silently from wear and tear on the arteries. Sometimes they can form from injury, infection or inherited tendency.
    Signs and symptoms of an unruptured brain aneurysm include: cranial nerve palsy, double vision, localized headache, dilated pupils and pain above and behind the eye.
    For people who suffer a ruptured brain aneurysm, there will be warning signs such as localized headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting, blurred or double vision and loss of sensation.
    For more information, visit www.bafound.org.
    “As a nurse, I feel it is important to get the word out about brain aneurysms and encourage people to seek treatment if they exhibit any signs or symptoms of having a brain aneurysm,” said Jones.
    Editor’s note: Jones also ran in the Susan Komen Race for a Cure in Bangor on Sept. 16.