Importance Score: 55 / 100 🔵
Emilia Clarke’s Brain Aneurysm Journey
Emilia Clarke, known for her fierce performances in Game of Thrones, faced a real-life battle off-screen. In 2019, she shared her harrowing experience in an essay for The New Yorker titled “A Battle for My Life,” detailing her struggle with a brain aneurysm. This health challenge brought unexpected obstacles while at the peak of her career.
The Initial Crisis
Recounting the initial incident, Clarke described a severe headache at the gym: “I reached the toilet, sank to my knees, and proceeded to be violently, voluminously ill,” she wrote. “Meanwhile, the pain—shooting, stabbing, constricting pain—was getting worse. At some level, I knew what was happening: my brain was damaged.” She was swiftly transported to the hospital for immediate evaluation and diagnosis. The actress had to have a brain scan to discover the cause of the pain.
Diagnosis and First Surgery
The diagnosis was swift and alarming. “The diagnosis was quick and ominous: a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), a life-threatening type of stroke, caused by bleeding into the space surrounding the brain,” she explained. “I’d had an aneurysm, an arterial rupture.” Immediate surgery was required to seal the ruptured aneurysm, which she described as causing “unbearable” pain. The brain aneurysm and subsequent treatment had significant consequences.
Recovery and Aphasia
Post-surgery, Clarke’s recovery was arduous. She experienced aphasia, a language impairment, during her recuperation. “Muttering nonsense” was how she described her struggle to communicate. Fortunately, “the aphasia passed” within a week, and she was discharged from the hospital a month after her admission.
Second Aneurysm and Surgery
During a subsequent brain evaluation in 2013, doctors discovered another growth that had “doubled in size,” necessitating a second surgical intervention. This procedure, unfortunately, did not go as planned.
Complications and a life-threatening bleed
- The initial procedure failed, leading to significant complications.
- “When they woke me, I was screaming in pain,” she wrote. “The procedure had failed. I had a massive bleed and the doctors made it plain that my chances of surviving were precarious if they didn’t operate again.”
- A second, more invasive surgery, requiring access to her brain through her skull, was necessary to save her life.
Triumph Over Adversity
Despite the immense challenges and life-threatening circumstances, Emilia Clarke has made a full recovery. Thankfully, Emilia shared, she’s now “at a hundred per cent.” Her story serves as an inspiration to many, highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment of brain aneurysms, as well as the resilience of the human spirit. Facing a subarachnoid hemorrhage can be scary, so knowing what to look for can be the difference between life and death.