Sharon and Steven Judd
“I hope that my gift in some way helps pave the way for others to experience the calm I have felt during a health crisis,” says Sharon. “The Brigham is on the cutting edge as medicine constantly changes. I see our gift as an investment in the future of medicine. We are so lucky to have a world-class hospital of great minds, with such a personal touch.”
Sharon was being treated for neck and shoulder pain by a chiropractor for six weeks. During that time, her symptoms worsened. Things came to a head one day, when she got out of her car couldn’t support her right leg and her right arm went numb.
Sharon’s daughter drove her to the Emergency Department of a nearby hospital, where her condition continued to worsen—her ear started pounding, and she experienced auditory sensations. An MRI revealed a dissected carotid artery, which led to a stroke. Sharon was transferred to the ICU and the medical team, unfamiliar with her diagnosis, recommended an invasive surgical procedure.
Sharon and her husband, Steven, didn’t feel comfortable with that plan, prompting him and a friend to find a stronger team. Their search led them to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and our world-class neurosurgery team, who jumped right into action. One of the nurses, Sarajune Dagen, asked Steven to gather Sharon’s records and scans and, rather than have him travel to Boston and be separated from his wife for too long, told him to meet her at a rest stop on the Mass Pike.
“We are still amazed at what she did,” says Sharon.
From that point on, Brigham doctors guided Sharon’s care plan remotely. They introduced a blood-thinning medication and advised against any procedures unless her conditioned significantly worsened. Sharon credits the Brigham team’s expert approach with saving her life.
“The doctors were so calm, they had seen this before and knew what they were doing,” Sharon recalls. “Had the Brigham not stepped in, my only option would have been experimental surgery—despite my reservations.”
After discharge, Sharon continued her care at the Brigham, initially with a six-week follow-up appointment with neurosurgeon Kai Frerichs, MD. “His calm manner and extensive expertise put me at such ease,” she says. Meanwhile, the Brigham team identified the reason Sharon had been experiencing strange symptoms on the unaffected side of her body: her right vertebral artery had also been compromised. “Despite the very frightening findings, I had such confidence in this team.”
Sharon’s care has since transitioned to neurologist Steven Feske, MD, medical director of the Brigham’s Comprehensive Stroke Center. “Dr. Feske conveys the same level of excellence, knowledge, calmness, and professionalism that has taken a lot of the anxiety out of a very alarming health condition,” she says.
Sharon is doing well today, despite still dealing with some residual effects. “I’m healthy in comparison, but it took a good two years to feel normal,” she says. She credits the Brigham with treating her condition with both expertise and compassion. “It’s the best place for me and my family, and it’s why I’ll always subject myself to New England winters.”
Indeed, Sharon is not the only one in her family to benefit from the Brigham’s care. When her sister, who has Down syndrome, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in October 2019, Sharon insisted she be transferred to the Brigham.
“Her care was nothing less than excellent,” Sharon notes. Now an outpatient in the hospital’s neurology clinic, her sister is paid “such a level of dignity and respect,” whereas “her whole life, people have talked around her.”
Deeply grateful for the care their family has received, Sharon and Steven have named the Brigham in their estate plans. In honor of their generosity, the Brigham welcomed them into The Brigham Legacy Society, which celebrates donors dedicated to shaping the future of medicine by making a planned gift.
“I hope that my gift in some way helps pave the way for others to experience the calm I have felt during a health crisis,” says Sharon.
“The Brigham is on the cutting edge as medicine constantly changes,” continues Sharon. “I see our gift as an investment in the future of medicine. We are so lucky to have a world-class hospital of great minds, with such a personal touch.”
