01/18/2017
On August 4, 2016 came in to CrossFit Compelled for the 4:30 PM class, just as she had for the last year and a half.
She was a staple in that class. Everyone who came to the 4:30 PM was Shawn's friend, without exception. It wasn't only those at 4:30 who knew Shawn, however. She was known to come in early to chat, hang out, ask questions about the workout of the day... and she would often stay after class to either put in some more work, chat some more with the people who were coming in for the classes, and perhaps occasionally complain about how hard the work out that she just successfully completed was.
She was an amazing motivator and many people experienced firsthand her incredible ability to affirm others efforts as she would go around and tell everyone they did great after a WOD. We didn't know that Shawn had a brain aneurysm… Nobody did. She was under an incredible amount of stress at the time and while she did show symptoms they were dismissed as being due to everything else going on in her life.
That day at the gym, Shawn's aneurysm ruptured while she was working out. She fought for several long days in the hospital but the damage done was too severe. Many of you know the story, many of you were there to experience it and some of you may just now be hearing about it.
Our purpose for sharing Shawn's story now is to bring awareness to what took her life. Hindsight is 2020 and we hope that by bringing attention to this disorder we can spare another family from having to go through with the Ogden's have been through. So this year CrossFit Compelled is teaming up with the Lisa Colagrossi Foundation who's purpose is to bring attention and awareness to the signs and symptoms of a brain aneurysm as well as communicate the risk factors so that those experiencing them or those who know someone experiencing them can seek help.
So we are asking you, everyone who can see this post, to share it. Share it with your friends, share it with your family, make it public so that everyone can see it.
One in 50 people have a brain aneurysm. Every 18 minutes, one of those brain aneurysms will rupture. 40% of ruptured brain aneurysm's prove fatal and Over 65% of people who survive a ruptured brain aneurysm will suffer brain damage. So, what are the signs and symptoms?
Sudden severe headache, the worst headache of your life
* Loss of consciousness
* Nausea/Vomiting
* Stiff Neck
* Sudden blurred or double vision
* Sudden pain above/behind the eye or difficulty seeing
* Sudden change in mental status/awareness
* Sudden trouble walking or dizziness
* Sudden weakness and numbness
* Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
* Seizure
* Drooping eyelid
Visit tlcfound.org for more information about the foundation.
Shawn was an amazing person and we are all so lucky to have gotten to know her. Now, we need to make her legacy one of saving even more lives than she already has.
