"I'm Glad We Have Us!"
By Tom Quirk

Scituate - The first brain aneurysm support group visit is not an easy situation. Some folks are very private and don’t wish to share their story, others may believe that they don’t need to be meeting with a bunch of crybabies. What they find however, is a frank, but caring reality-based environment, where those new to the world of aneurysms can interact with others just like them, who understand their fears about the degree and duration of their recovery and the tears that come with them. Much like Las Vegas, what happens in these meetings, stays in these meetings! Except of course for the motivation and encouragement derived from the group dynamic.

Every survivor is impacted in some way and will never be, as they were before. Some of the stories are tragic, many sad, all encouraging and most are heroic. When a person listens to each survivor, they realize that there is more than surgical-medical- nursing professionalism at work here.

Some come to a few support group meetings, acquire new insights and when sufficiently informed and refreshed, move along. Others continue to draw motivation and spirit from the group and attend for years. I have been a faithful participant for over eight years, after being a reluctant attendee at my first meeting. Even with some 150 group sessions, I continue experience new wisdom and encouragement from the group members. I may be simply a slow learner, but I like to believe that I contribute a little something from time to time. The long-term attendees continue to inspire new arrivals by their recovery journey and they are crucial to the continuity of this support group paradigm.

There is camaraderie that develops and friendships that arise from folks facing similar challenges together. The familiar mantra of brain aneurysm support groups is “you are not alone and things do get better.” A few months ago, a regular support participant said to me, “I’m glad we have us!” Such a perfect description of what brain aneurysm support groups are all about!

About The Author
For more information you may contact Tom Quirk at (617) 513-3578 or via email at tfquirk@aol.com. For more information about brain aneurysms, please visit the Brain Aneurysm Foundation’s web site at www. bafound.org. The South Shore Brain Aneurysm Support Group meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Norwell Visiting Nurse Association, 91 Longwater Circle, in Norwell.