Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness

Support


The Maine Brain Aneurysm Support Group offers information, education, encouragement, and understanding to all individuals who have been affected by a brain aneurysm.

Survivors, family members, caregivers, and anyone interested are welcome to attend. The meetings will provide information and education on a variety of topics relating to the treatment and recovery process for both survivors and caregivers. At every other meeting, we aim to have a guest speaker that gives short presentations and then open the floor for discussion.

The meetings also provide an opportunity for reassurance and personal exchange between survivors and caregivers.

Please be aware that these meetings are not held to offer specific medical advice, but to provide peer support and education. This is a great place for you to meet and share with others who have been through similar experiences.

Join Us:

DAY: Last Thursday of each month
TIME: 6:00-7:30 P.M.
ONLINE: Meetings are held on the ZOOM online platform (prior registration required)

Specific meeting information will be posted on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram) including planned speakers and info on how to register to participate on ZOOM. If you’re not on social media, please email dave@maineba.org with any questions you may have.

Support Group on Zoom

Are you a CAREGIVER or FAMILY MEMBER of someone who has suffered from a brain aneurysm? Please read: Ten things Brain Aneurysm Survivors would like family and friends to know.

Topic Schedule: Last Thurs. of each month

2023 Topics

  • 12/28/23: NO MEETING due to Christmas & New Year holidays
  • 12/07/23: Holiday Social, location TBD
  • 11/30/23: NO MEETING due to Thanksgiving holiday
  • 10/26/23: ZOOM – Deborah Gregoire, MMC - Post Stroke Fatigue
  • 9/28/23: ZOOM – Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 8/21/23: ZOOM – Laura Lorenz, PhD – PhotoVoice
  • 7/27/23: ZOOM – Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 6/29/23: ZOOM – Deborah Gregoire, MMC - Neuroplasticity
  • 5/25/23: ZOOM – Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 4/27/23: ZOOM – Deborah Gregoire, MMC Stroke Program - Neuroplasticity
  • 3/30/23: ZOOM – Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 2/23/23: ZOOM – Angela Leclerc, MSPA, PA-C - NeuroCOPE program
  • 1/26/23: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns

2022 Topics

  • 12/29/22: NO MEETING due to Christmas & New Year holidays
  • 12/08/22: Holiday Social, Stockhouse Pub, Westbrook, ME
  • 11/24/22: NO MEETING due to Thanksgiving holiday
  • 10/27/22: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 9/29/22: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 8/25/22: ZOOM - Stryker Neurovascular - Coils & Stents use for treatment
  • 7/28/22: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 6/30/22: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 5/26/22: ZOOM - What do you wish you were told after your brain aneurysm?
  • 4/28/22: ZOOM - Anne Moreau, Brain Health
  • 3/31/22: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 2/24/22: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 1/27/22: ZOOM - Tom Broussard, Stroke Educator

2021 Topics-Click to Open or Collapse All

  • 12/30/21: NO MEETING due to Christmas holiday
  • 12/09/21: Holiday Social, Torilla Flats, Portland
  • 11/25/21: NO MEETING due to Thanksgiving holiday
  • 10/28/21: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 09/30/21: ZOOM - Brina Kelly - occupational therapist
  • 09/18/21: JOIN US at the KAT-WALK & KARO-5k
  • 08/26/21: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 07/29/21: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 06/24/21: ZOOM - Dr. Stephanie Chan, MD - Neuro-fatigue
  • 05/27/21: Open Forum - In-Person
  • 04/29/21: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 03/25/21: ZOOM - Eryn Martin, Making Headway podcast
  • 02/25/21: ZOOM - Deborah Gregoire, Stroke Program Manager @ Maine Medical Center
  • 01/28/21: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns

2020 Topics-Click to Open or Collapse All

  • 12/03/20: ZOOM - Nikki Busmanis, Maine 211 & Survivor concerns
  • 10/29/20: ZOOM - Open Forum & Survivor concerns
  • 09/24/20: Campfire Meeting - Survivor concerns
  • 08/27/20: Open Forum - Survivor concerns
  • 07/30/20: Open Forum - Survivor concerns
  • 06/25/20: Reactivation Social Gathering - Open Forum
  • 05/28/20: MEETING CANCELLED (Covid19 Compliance)
  • 04/30/20: MEETING CANCELLED (Covid19 Compliance)
  • 03/26/20: MEETING CANCELLED (Covid19 Compliance)
  • 02/28/20: Open Forum - Survivor concerns
  • 01/30/20: Gretchen Schoenfield, PhD - Psychological Aspects of Brain Injury

2019 Topics-Click to Open or Collapse All

  • 12/26/19: NO MEETING due to Christmas holiday
  • 12/12/19: Holiday Social, Torilla Flats, Portland
  • 11/28/19: NO MEETING due to Thanksgiving holiday
  • 10/31/19: NO MEETING due to Halloween
  • 09/26/19: Open Forum - Survivor concerns
  • 08/29/19: Cory Hall, Neurologic Physical Therapist
  • 07/25/19: Open Forum - Survivor concerns
  • 06/27/19: Dr. Robert Ecker - MMC Neurosurgeon
  • 05/30/19: Open Forum - Welcome New Families
  • 04/25/19: Open Forum - Survivor concerns
  • 03/28/19: Personal Trainer - Tia Parady
  • 02/28/19: Open Forum - Welcome New Families
  • 01/31/19: Dr. Susan Williams, Neuroendovascular Surgeon

2018 Topics-Click to Open or Collapse All

  • 12/27/18: NO MEETING due to Christmas holiday
  • 12/13/18: Holiday Social, Torilla Flats, Portland
  • 11/29/18: NO MEETING due to Thanksgiving holiday
  • 10/25/18: Sarah Gaffney - Brain Injury Association
  • 09/27/18: Open Forum - Introduction to new families
  • 08/30/18: Open Forum on survivor concerns
  • 07/26/18: Three Therapists - Managing Everyday Life
  • 06/28/18: Open Forum on survivor concerns
  • 05/31/18: Liz Korabek-Emerson - Mindfullness Instructor
  • 04/26/18: Open Forum on survivor concerns
  • 03/29/18: TED Talk Video: "A Stroke of Insight"
  • 02/22/18: Open Forum on survivor concerns.
  • 01/25/18: Memory Strategies - Dr. Heather McClelland.

2017 Topics-Click to Open or Collapse All

  • 12/14/17: Holiday Social, Tortilla Flats, Portland.
  • 11/23/17: Thanksgiving - NO MEETING due to holiday
  • 10/26/17: Neurologic Music Therapy - Kate Beever, Neurologic Music Therapist
  • 9/28/17: Open Forum on survivor concerns.
  • 9/9/17: KAT-Walk & Karo-5K for Brain Aneurysm Awareness - Back Cove, Portland
  • 8/31/17: Open Forum on survivor concerns.
  • 7/27/17: "Emotional and Personality Changes including Grieving, Denial, Anger, Frustration & Depression" - Dr. Mark Kiefner, Neuropsychologist, MMC
  • 6/29/17: Open Forum on survivor concerns.
  • 5/25/17: "Updates in Brain Aneurysm Treatments" - Dr. Robert Ecker, Maine Medical Partners Neurosurgery
  • 4/27/17: Open Forum on survivor concerns.
  • 3/30/17: "Rehabilitation after Brain Aneurysm Rupture" - Dr. Thomas Savadove, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, MMC
  • 2/23/17: Open Forum on survivor concerns.
  • 1/26/17: "Ruptured Brain Aneurysms & ICU" - Dr. David Seder, Director of Neurocritical Care, MMC

2016 Topics-Click to Open or Collapse All

  • 12/8/16: Holiday Social - Tortilla Flats, Portland
  • 11/24/16: Thanksgiving - NO MEETING due to holiday
  • 10/29/16: Sarah Gaffney from BIA and Open Forum
  • 9/29/16: Open Forum on survivor concerns.
  • 9/17/16: KAT-Walk & Karo-5k for Brain Aneurysm Awareness - Back Cove, Portland
  • 8/25/16: Jason Crigler - special presentation in auditorium at Dana Center, MMC
  • 7/28/16: View film "Life, Support, Music" - AVM Survivor Story
  • 6/23/16: Open Forum on survivor concerns.
  • 5/26/16: Pipeline Embolization treatment for brain aneurysm - Dr. Chris Baker
  • 4/28/16: Open Forum for discussion
  • 3/31/16: "Healing, Hope, and Empathy on the Road to Recovery” - Dr. Mark Kiefner, Neuropsychologist
  • 2/25/16: Open Forum on survivor concerns.
  • 1/28/16: Open group discussion around the topic “10 Things Brain Aneurysm Survivors Would like Family and Friends to Know”.

2015 Topics-Click to Open or Collapse

  • 12/10/15: Holiday Social
  • 10/29/15: Yoga to Relieve Anxiety & Stress - Sara Perry
  • 9/24/15: Open Forum for discussion
  • 8/27/15: Changes in Personality after Aneurysm - Dr. Thomas Miller
  • 7/30/15: Open Forum for discussion
  • 6/25/15: Memory Strategies - Dr. Alex Hoyt
  • 5/28/15: Open Forum for discussion
  • 4/29/15: Advancements in Aneurysm Treatments – Dr. Robert Ecker
  • 3/28/15: Open forum for discussion
  • 2/26/15: Headaches-Dr. Paul Muscat
  • 1/29/15: Meet Dr. Matthew Sanborn from Maine Medical Partners Neurosurgery

2014 Topics-Click to Open or Collapse

  • 11/27/14: NO MEETING due to Holiday
  • 10/30/14: Coping and Grief-Dr. Howard Kunin
  • 9/25/14: Headache & Meds Research- Elizabth Glisic, Pharm. D.
  • 8/28/14: Healthy Living- Dr. Syed Kazmi
  • 7/25/14: SAH and the ICU- Dr. David Seder
  • 6/27/14: Headaches - Dr. Paul Muscat
  • 5/30/14: Memory Strategies - Dr. Heather McClelland
  • 3/28/14: New Technology in Aneurysm Treatment – Dr. Robert Ecker
  • 2/28/14: Presentation by Brain Aneurysm Foundation & formation of group

Reasons to Attend

  • If you have been recently diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and are now facing treatment.
  • If you are frightened, and want to better understand your condition.
  • If you are a concerned family member who wants to support a relative who has been diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.
  • If you suffered a sudden hemorrhage from a brain aneurysm, underwent treatment, and are going through the recovery process.
  • If a loved one has passed away from a hemorrhaged brain aneurysm, and you want more information about this illness.

Sponsors

This group is being sponsored by Maine Medical Parteners: Neurosurgery & Spine and Maine Brain Aneurysm Awareness, organizers of the annual KAT-Walk & Karo-5K for Brain Aneurysm Awareness, Portland, Maine

Maine Medical Partners