Deborah Johnston

Deborah Johnston, from Stevenage in Hertfordshire, was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm in 2015 after she began having balance issues.
It wasn’t the first time Deborah had heard the words “brain aneurysm”, as her mother sadly passed away due to a ruptured aneurysm when Deobrah was just two years old.

Fast forward some 47 years later and Deborah was told the devastating news that she had “quite a large brain aneurysm” and would require surgery.

“I just burst into tears”, the now 59-year-old said.

“The way I was told it was like they were telling me I’d sprained my ankle. I just thought it would’ve been nice to have the doctor say, ‘Is anyone with you?’
“It’s just a whirlwind after that. My mind was going ten to the dozen.”

Doctors operated within weeks, with nanny-of-five Deborah spending time in the High Dependency unit post-surgery due to pre-existing renal issues.
She said: “The headaches and recovery afterwards are just horrendous.”

“The lights in the ward were so bright. My sister lent me her sunglasses, and ever since then I’ve had light phobia. If the lights are too bright, I struggle.
“I get words mixed up and can’t cook anymore. It’s made a huge difference to my life.

“I’d gone from feeling quite well- apart from the balance problems- to having this operation and now symptoms, but obviously it saved my life, so it’s a small price to pay to be alive and still be with family.”

Deborah turned to Headway for support following her operation, as she wanted to better understand brain injury and the different symptoms she now faced.

She said: “When I went to hospital, there was no-one to explain why I was sensitive to bright lights and why I couldn’t do certain things anymore. But when I phoned Headway, there was someone there on the end of the phone.

“They answered the questions that the hospital couldn’t answer. They were just there to listen. I also struggled big time during Covid-19 lockdown, and it was Headway that I turned to.
They phoned me all throughout lockdown to check that I was okay. They have been absolutely amazing.”

“I’ve now done my funeral plan, and I’ve put in there that any donations should go to Headway, because they’re the ones who have supported me so well.”

Support from the family

Deborah’s family have since fundraised for the charity, with daughter Lauren completing Headway’s first-ever virtual walking challenge of walking 90km during the month of February 2025.

“I couldn’t physically do it,” said Deborah.

“My daughter said ‘It’s okay mum, I’m doing it with the dogs’. And I’m just so pleased that she did it for me and for Headway. I’m so proud of her.”

As well as Headway, Deborah sought comfort in the one constant in her life- her teddy bear called Bonzo, which she has had since she was a toddler.

Bonzo was given to Deborah when her mum sadly passed away and Deborah said she “took him everywhere”.
“He was the comfort I needed”, she said.

“I used to talk to him and share happy and sad times with him.
“When I was diagnosed with my brain aneurysm, I just thought ‘oh Bonzo’ and hugged him and cried.

“Even though I have my husband and family, Bonzo has been my constant in life. You don’t meet your husband until later in life whereas Bonzo has been with me since I was a child.

“He may look like a scruffy bear to you but to me he is as treasured as if he were an antique.”