SUPPORT
Sharon Epperson: A Champion for
the Brain Aneurysm Foundation
On a September morning in 2016, Sharon Epperson was participating in an exercise class when she
felt a strange sensation in her head. Almost instantly “I knew something was wrong” says Sharon, a
CNBC correspondent and married mother of two who lives in Westchester County, New York.
Unable to drive, Sharon called her husband, who picked her up and took her to a primary care
physician, who insisted they go to the local Emergency Department. There, tests revealed that
Sharon had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm. She was transferred to Montefiore Medical Center,
where she underwent surgical treatment.
One year following her treatment, Sharon was happy to be able to return to work. But she is the
first to admit that she is a changed person. “In the past I was always very driven toward a future
goal, but now I live in the moment and relish the fact that I’m alive.”
Sharon’s recovery, which she says is “still ongoing and may never be 100 percent,” has not been
easy. “I used to go at 120 percent and just power through if I got tired, but now I may hit the wall at
80 percent and I don’t have a second wind, so I need to pace myself,” says Sharon. “It’s a challenge
if you’re not used to saying no, and often difficult for others to understand because this cognitive
fatigue is invisible.”
One activity Sharon always makes time for these days is raising awareness about brain aneurysms
and the need for more research. In a recent conversation, Sharon shared some of the reasons she is
so passionate about the Brain Aneurysm Foundation’s mission.
How did you first learn about the Brain Aneurysm Foundation?
After my treatment, I wanted to learn more about the incidence of brain aneurysms and aneurysm
ruptures among African-Americans and did a Google search, which led me to the BAF website.
There I found out that women are more likely than men to suffer an aneurysm and that African-
Americans are twice as likely as whites to have a rupture. I was very impressed with the information
on the BAF website, which I found enormously helpful. I did some research [on GuideStar and
Charity Navigator] and learned that the BAF is a transparent, fiscally responsible organization with
a prestigious Medical Advisory Board and professional leadership. As a longtime financial journalist,
it was important to me to know that I was supporting an organization that meets these criteria.
Sharon Epperson is funding a BAF Chair of Research, an important
source of funds for brain aneurysm researchers at leading hospitals
around the country. BAF Chairs of Research are established with a
minimum gift of $10,000 and can be named in honor or memory of a
loved one. To learn more about this special funding opportunity, please
visit our website: bafound.org/chairs-research
B R AIN ANEU RYSM FOU NDATION | SU M M E R 201 8 | BAFOU ND.ORG
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