The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation

01/22/2026

When Juan survived a ruptured AVM, Mark never imagined he would become his caregiver — or how deeply it would reshape their lives, their marriage, and their understanding of love.

Their story is about grief and resilience. About choosing presence over fear. About showing up — again and again — for the person you love most.

💛 Read Mark & Juan’s full story and explore more stories from the TAAF community on our website.
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01/21/2026

Knowledge is the first step toward informed care.

01/20/2026

You don’t have to “look sick” to be taken seriously. Trust your instincts, know your family history, and pay attention to subtle changes.🧠 

01/19/2026

01/15/2026

Red Ribbon Week continues, and Day 4 is moving forward with courage and hope.

Meet Shayan, in the words of his mom, Soumya:

Shayan is 8 and lives in Maryland. On December 31, 2024, Shayan experienced a hemorrhagic stroke caused by an AVM. He spent much of 2024 in the hospital and rehab and continues to make progress with left-side mobility weakness. As you’ll see, he currently has tissue expanders in his scalp as he prepares for his second cranioplasty later this month.

Throughout this journey, Shayan has shown his family, friends, and community incredible strength, courage, and fearlessness.

A few fun things to know about Shayan: he loves all things airplanes and can’t wait to one day fly on a Boeing 747 or an Airbus A380 when he’s cleared for air travel. He’s also back at school part-time and continues to amaze everyone with how much he’s learning — and how much joy he brings to the classroom.

Receiving an adaptive bike through TAAF’s Blake’s Blessings Program will be an important part of Shayan’s therapy and strength-building — in a way that feels fun and joyful. Biking was something he loved during inpatient rehab, and his family is excited to bring that same joy home. They can’t wait to see how many miles he logs, indoors and out.

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01/15/2026

🎀 Red Ribbon Week continues, and Day 4 is fueled by resilience, perseverance, and determination.

Meet Julian, in the words of his mom, Melissa:

Julian is 10 years old and lives in Patterson, California. He was born with an AVM, though we didn’t know it until his first rupture at age 3. His second rupture came at age 7, followed by five months at UCSF Benioff Mission Bay due to complications and inpatient rehab.

Julian has always loved riding his bike. Before his first rupture, he was already riding a two-wheel bike with no training wheels. Afterward, he was determined to ride again—and he did, teaching himself on his big brother’s bike. While at UCSF, riding a Rifton adaptive bike made his face light up. In 2024, we found a used adaptive bike, but by 2025 he had outgrown it.

When Julian received his new adaptive bike through TAAF’s Blake’s Blessings, the excitement was unforgettable. He checked for the delivery every day after school, and when it finally arrived, he was ecstatic. Now he rides almost daily—inside and outside—and proudly tells everyone about his bike.

This bike has given Julian freedom, pride, and pure joy.

From Julian and our family: thank you for this incredible gift. It has truly been a blessing in his life.

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01/14/2026

🎀 Red Ribbon Week continues, and Day 3 is building momentum.

Meet Katie.
Katie is a college junior living in Pennsylvania and studying to become a speech therapist.

Her world changed during her senior year of high school when, after weeks of headaches, she was diagnosed with an inoperable AVM deep in the left side of her brain. After multiple medical opinions, she underwent Gamma Knife treatment just weeks before heading off to college, where she went on to have a wonderful freshman year.

By the following spring, new symptoms emerged. After a difficult summer filled with ER visits and hospital stays, Katie experienced right-sided weakness, including loss of use of her hand, foot drop, and speech and language challenges. She spent the next year at home working tirelessly in therapy, driven by one goal—returning to campus—which she proudly achieved this past fall.

Movement and fitness have always been central to Katie’s life. A former dancer and varsity field hockey goalie, staying active remains vital to her independence. Her adaptive Rifton bike, gifted through TAAF’s Blake’s Blessings, allows her to build strength, regain confidence, and enjoy the freedom of riding—both indoors and outdoors.

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01/14/2026

🎀 Red Ribbon Week continues, and Day 3 is filled with joy, confidence, and independence.

Meet Julia. Julia is 20 years old and lives in California. She survived a massive hemorrhagic stroke caused by a complex arteriovenous malformation (AVM), along with multiple aneurysms that developed from it. Saving her life required six different brain procedures, followed by Gamma Knife surgery to fully obliterate the AVM. Her recovery has been long and ongoing—but Julia continues forward with determination and grace.

A fun thing to know about Julia is that she absolutely loves the performing arts. Piano, acting, singing, dancing, writing, and music are where she feels most like herself. Creativity has always been her safe place and her way of expressing who she is. Julia is also deeply passionate about raising awareness for aneurysms and AVMs and proudly serves as a TAAF Ambassador.

Receiving her adaptive bike has given Julia something incredibly meaningful. It allows her to feel more free, more independent, and more connected to movement in a way that was once taken from her. This bike isn’t just about mobility—it’s about joy, confidence, and reclaiming a piece of independence.

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01/13/2026

🎀 Red Ribbon Week continues, and Day 2 is moving with purpose.

Meet Will Harris, of Will's AVM Journey, in the words of his mom, Tricia:

Will is 10 and lives in Johnston, Rhode Island. He has an AVM, which we didn’t know about until he was 2 years old, when he had a brain hemorrhage. While it’s rare for new AVMs to grow after birth, Will is extra fancy and has had two more develop. He’s had three brain surgeries to remove them and is checked yearly for any new growth.

The brain injury has left him with several disabilities, including right-sided weakness, cortical vision impairment, and sensory processing disorder, among others.

Will loves Pokémon, Minecraft, and being wild with his friends. He’s currently mastering solving a Rubik’s Cube.

Receiving the adaptive bike from TAAF has meant that even with his disabilities, Will feels confident riding. We’ve tried many kinds of bikes, but this one finally gives him the stability he needs. Even though it’s winter here in Rhode Island, Will already has plans to meet his friends at the park for bike riding as soon as the weather warms.

This is what purpose looks like.
This is what community makes possible.

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01/13/2026

🎀 Red Ribbon Week continues and Day 2 is all about freedom, movement, and the power of community.

Meet Andrew Santos.

Andrew is an AVM, aneurysm, and massive stroke survivor—and a huge sports fan. Basketball and football are his favorites, and he’s a devoted Golden State Warriors fan, especially loyal to Steph Curry. (Fun fact: Andrew’s AVM resection took place on Steph’s birthday in 2018.)

Andrew and his family were beyond excited to be part of the very first Blake’s Blessings + Spokes for Strokes event, where Andrew rode a bike for the first time since before his rupture in 2018. That ride brought a sense of freedom and happiness that meant everything.

Because the adaptive bike Andrew rode was perfectly matched to his abilities for that event, the Blake’s Blessings bike will now be donated to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Rehab—the very place where Andrew learned to walk and talk again. Knowing this bike will help other children during their rehab journeys, while also bringing fun and the simple joy of being a kid, means the world to Andrew and his family.

We are deeply grateful for the legacy of Blake and for the Willuski family, whose love and generosity live on through Blake’s Blessings, a TAAF program that has been a priceless gift to so many.

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01/12/2026

🎀 Day 1 of Red Ribbon Week is off to a joyful start. This is Reel 2 of 2 we’re sharing today, continuing our celebration of the children and families receiving adaptive bikes through TAAF’s Blake’s Blessings Program.

Meet Audrey Murphy, in the words of her mom, Lisa:

Audrey is age 17 and lives in metro Phoenix, Arizona. She was born with an arteriovenous malformation on her brainstem. Her AVM was successfully removed when she was 14 months old, leaving her with right-side challenges and seizures.

A fun thing to know about Audrey is that she loves spending time with her friends and family, fun adventures and fashion modeling.

Receiving her adaptive bike from TAAF has meant a lot more adventures and time with friends & family. She will be actively participating in a local charity 5K event for the first time, riding alongside family & friends! And this would not be possible without her new magical pink bike!

Audrey’s story is one of resilience, joy, and possibility. Thank you for helping make moments like this a reality.

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