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A normal morning. A coffee on the way to work. Then a headache hits like a lightning strike, and everything changes.

Steven Forward survives a double brain aneurysm after being given just a 2% chance of survival. He spends 12 days in intensive care, loses 18 days of memory, and begins a recovery journey that continues long after leaving the hospital.

In this powerful episode of Engaging Conversations, Steven shares what it was really like to survive one of the most devastating medical emergencies imaginable, and why recovery is about so much more than simply staying alive.

Together, we explore what a thunderclap headache feels like, why the warning signs of a brain aneurysm are so often missed, and the physical, emotional and psychological challenges that follow. Steven also explains procedures such as coiling and stenting in simple terms, while sharing the ongoing reality of follow-up scans, fatigue, seizures, memory loss and learning to rebuild life after trauma.

Perhaps the most powerful part of this conversation is what happens after the hospital.

What support exists for survivors? What about their partners, families and carers? Are too many people falling through the cracks once the immediate medical crisis has passed?

Recorded at Survivors R Us in Cardiff, this episode is more than a story of survival. It’s a conversation about awareness, resilience, community, and why sharing one person’s journey can educate others and even save lives.

Whether you’re interested in health, disability inclusion, community support, or simply understanding how quickly life can change, this is a conversation I genuinely believe everyone should hear.

If this episode resonated with you, please follow Engaging Conversations, leave a review, and share it with your family, friends and community. Every share helps us bring important conversations like this to more people and continue shining a light on the issues that matter most.

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Connect with Steven Forward

Newcastle/Central Coast storm chasers

Australian Aneurysm Support (Aussie Annies) Facebook Group

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Every share helps another story reach someone who may need to hear it.

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Connect with Leon Goltsman

📧 leon.goltsman@ecohq.com.au

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