CBS News New York's Jennifer Bisram opens up about battle with brain aneurysm

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For CBS News New York anchor and reporter Jennifer Bisram, a story about a serious medical condition became deeply personal when she discovered she was living with a brain aneurysm.

Bisram was off the air for several weeks this past spring after experiencing persistent headaches that initially seemed easy to dismiss. But when the pain continued for months, she pushed for further testing — a decision that ultimately revealed a potentially dangerous condition.

“I felt like I was a walking time bomb,” Bisram told CBS News New York’s Cindy Hsu while opening up about the experience.

The Headaches Wouldn't Go Away

Bisram said the pain was concentrated on the left side of her head and kept returning in the same location.

At first, she and her husband considered more ordinary explanations, including lack of sleep or dehydration. But the headaches persisted long enough that Bisram decided she needed an MRI.

The scan revealed that she had a brain aneurysm — a weakened area in a blood vessel in the brain that can develop a bulge.

The diagnosis immediately changed how she viewed her health.

“I Was So Scared”

Bisram was treated by Dr. Charlotte Chung, a neurointerventionalist at NYU Langone Health Long Island.

Chung told CBS News New York that Bisram’s aneurysm was more concerning than many others. Faced with the uncertainty of what could happen, Bisram said she became frightened enough to write down her wishes in case she did not make it home.

“I was so scared that I wrote out my wishes,” she said. “Just in case I didn’t come back home.”

A Procedure Through Her Wrist

Doctors treated Bisram with a procedure known as flow diversion.

The treatment involved placing a mesh tube, or stent, through a blood vessel accessed through her wrist. The device redirects blood flow away from the aneurysm, allowing the weakened area to heal over time.

Chung said doctors expect the stent to do its work over a period of months. The procedure was successful, and Bisram spent several days in the hospital before continuing her recovery at home.

Back to the Stories She Loves

After her recovery, Bisram returned to the newsroom — but she also decided to tell a very different kind of story: her own.

The award-winning journalist said she felt compelled to share what happened because she wanted others facing frightening health diagnoses to know that recovery is possible.

“I felt like I would be doing an injustice if I didn’t tell my story,” she said.

Her experience has also led her to become involved with the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, including volunteering at its annual Long Island Run/Walk.

Finding a New Perspective

Bisram said the experience has changed the way she looks at life.

Rather than allowing the diagnosis to define her, she has used her recovery to raise awareness and encourage people to listen to their bodies — especially when symptoms persist.

“I love life and I feel like there’s so much to live,” Bisram said. “And I wanna make sure that I live it out until that day.”

Her story is now another reminder that symptoms that seem easy to explain away can sometimes deserve a closer look.

For Bisram, listening to her persistent headaches and pushing for an MRI ultimately led to a diagnosis that may have otherwise gone undiscovered.

Source: CBS News New York