Friday, September 26, 2025
Yoga with Caitlyn
Join Caitlyn Garrison, a Trauma informed Yoga teacher with many years of experience working with People who have Traumatic brain injuries for this Accessible, trauma informed Yoga class. The class is open to practitioners regardless of experience class, and is specifically designed for individuals who suffer from TBI’s, as well as other proprioceptive ailments. This class will focus on gentle movement, strengthening our brain’s neural pathways to self regulation, as well as incorporate brain exercises to strengthen the connection between both hemispheres of the brain.
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Black Swan Yoga - San Antonio (Vineyard)
Address: 1201 N Loop 1604 W Suite 105, San Antonio, TX 78232
Website:https://www.blackswanyoga.com/events
Instagram: blackswanyogasanantonio
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Mat Pilates for Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month
This September, I’m honored to guide a Pilates class dedicated to Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month—a reminder of the strength, resilience, and hope found in every step of recovery and every mindful breath.
With 18+ years of experience as a personal trainer, pilates instructor, and nutritionist, I’ve seen how Pilates can be more than movement—it can be a pathway to healing, balance, and renewed vitality.
In this class, we’ll awaken the body from the ground up—activating through the toes, engaging the legs, connecting the core, opening the chest, and lengthening through the neck and head. Each movement is an invitation to bring awareness to how intricately connected we are, inside and out.
This isn’t just exercise—it’s a practice of presence. A chance to move with purpose, to honor the journey of survivors and caregivers, and to cultivate strength and calm that ripple far beyond the mat.
Together, we’ll flow through mindful sequences that blend gentle strength, grounding breathwork, and restorative release, leaving you feeling both uplifted and centered.
Come move in community, in honor of awareness, resilience, and renewal.
Time: 10:00-11:00am
Location: Stay Lifted Fitness & Nutrition
Address: 11815 I-10 Suite 200, San Antonio, TX 78230
Instagram: dmo_staylifted
Sunday, September 28, 2025
San Antonio Pug Meet-Up: Brain Aneurysm Awareness Edition
Join us this September as we bring pugs (and their people!) together for a special Brain Aneurysm Awareness Meet-Up. Our community is all about pug-unity—celebrating the joy of these squishy-faced pups while connecting with fellow pug lovers across San Antonio.
Whether you have a pug, love pugs, or just want to be part of the fun, come join us for wags, playtime, and community support
Time: 9:00-11:00am
Location: Phil Hardberger Dog Park East - Blanco Road - Small Dog Side - 13203 Blanco Rd, San Antonio, TX 78216
Instagram: pugmeetup_sa
Donation Support
Donate online using the Donate button. To make a donation by check, please make payable to The Bee Foundation and send to 303 West Lancaster Ave #334 Wayne, PA 19087
Makena Cecilia's Story
My Story:
In April of 2024, I was diagnosed with a 2 cm unruptured brain aneurysm. It felt like the diagnosis came out of nowhere, despite the fact that I had been struggling with increasingly severe, debilitating migraines for over six months, and countless doctor’s visits and tests had just led to more questions. Even though I knew something was wrong, I didn’t expect it to be as critical as an unruptured aneurysm in my brain. A small part of me couldn’t help thinking that my migraines weren’t as bad as they seemed, and my vision loss was all in my head, but hearing the diagnosis from my doctor changed my life.
My journey from symptoms to diagnosis was long and full of self-doubt, not to mention constant pushing and prodding to shift the gears of the healthcare system into motion. In November of 2023, my PCP prescribed several different medications to treat my severe migraines. Three months later, a visit to my optometrist confirmed that my vision hadn’t changed, except for major loss of periphery vision. This triggered the idea that the problem was deeper; something neurological was at play. Seeing a neurologist was a headache unto itself, with a two month wait, constant phone calls and emails to the doctor’s office and health insurance, and the underlying uncertainty of the pain I was still experiencing.
In January of 2024, when many people were starting their “New Year, New Me” mindset, I was right alongside them. I clearly remember my first week of the year: going on an outdoor trail walk with friends, beginning pilates that Thursday and making an intentional decision to go to yoga for the first time that Saturday. I’d been to a yoga class less than a handful of times at the time, but this time, it was my choice to make it to my mat. I felt the effects of a regular yoga practice immediately; not only was I gaining strength in my physical body, joining a community of likeminded souls infused me with a sense of the Aloha spirit that strengthened me emotionally.
As a native Hawaiian woman living in Texas, I’m always looking for ways to tap into the Aloha spirit. Aloha translates to hello or goodbye, but is ultimately an essence of being with love, peace and a mutual understanding of respect. When my 32nd birthday came around on April 12, 2024, I had been to the neurologist, but still needed to get an MRI. A trip to Austin with my cousins and close friends to celebrate my birthday provided another healthy dose of Aloha spirit. Fancy dinners, an epic concert, and tons of quality time, was almost overshadowed by the world’s worst game of telephone between the imaging clinic, my doctors, and my insurance company. I learned about authorization numbers, insurance codes, and the power of persistence while my loved ones showered me with aloha, unaware of the health issues I was battling at the same time.
Once the MRI scans came back, my neurologist gave me the diagnosis. A 2cm, unruptured aneurysm had formed in an artery in my brain, impinging on my optic nerve and causing complete vision loss in my left eye. Her words bounced around in my head as I understood them individually but couldn’t attach them to any meaning as it related to myself. How many 32 year olds have unruptured brain aneurysms anyway? Anxious thoughts flooded my mind - what would happen to my 2 year old pug, Elphaba? Would I have to shave my head for surgery? Could I even have surgery? Was I going to be okay?
Luckily, I was able to meet my neurosurgeon within a week. He recommended a surgery that he did all the time which would repair the weakened wall in my artery and cause the aneurysm to shrink and repair over time. The very next week, I was admitted to the hospital for an angiogram, which confirmed the neurosurgeon’s plan. I remained in the hospital for four days until my surgeon could complete the surgery. On May 2nd, my dog came to visit me in the hospital to celebrate my mother’s birthday. Though my mother passed away in 2017, it was very special to be surrounded by my family the day before surgery.
At 10:30am CT on Friday May 3rd, I was done with my surgery and starting to come out of anesthesia. I was tired, had a massive headache, but I could feel in my soul that things were going to get better. As the day went on, I was eager to be cleared by my doctors and discharged from the hospital. Feeding myself, chatting with my nurses, and singing and playing ukulele were all activities I was sure could prove that I was ready to start my new life post-surgery. Sure enough, by 5pm I was back in my own home, cuddling my dog, and eating pho in bed. My cousins were around to help, and even agreed to let me use the toilet by myself. “You’re pretty independent considering you have a brand new medical device in your brain!”
I’ve had my brain stent for 16 months now, and a lot has changed. I have a regular yoga and pilates practice with a growing community, and I’m even enrolled in a Yoga Teacher Training program to make yoga more approachable for others like me. I’ve adopted another pug to keep Elphaba company named Fiyero, and he keeps us on our toes. Though I still can’t see anything out of my left eye, I’m able to be mostly independent, getting myself to puppy playdates, work, and work outs without any issues. Living with an invisible disability is a new challenge that I’m learning from daily, but I’m grateful for the spirit of aloha that helped me through these past few years, and that I can share with others in the future.
I’m also so thankful for the past version of me that recognized the symptoms I was having and pushed for a resolution. If you’re having similar symptoms, don’t hesitate to get help; pain isn’t normal, and while it might not be a brain aneurysm, you deserve to live a healthy and happy life.
MAHALO!