Julie Conner

Thank you for visiting our mom's site.  We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your prayers, support and words of hope and encouragement. 


On Wednesday morning, January 18th, Julie went to her gym in Woodbury, MN to attend a personal training session.  After a short chat with her personal trainer (who she likes very much), Julie laid down on the gym mat and started her first couple exercises.  Just minutes into the workout, Julie lost consciousness.  Emergency services were called and an AED was hooked up.  By the time the AED was hooked up, her heart had started beating again so there was no shock needed.  The people at the gym did start CPR before the ambulance arrived.  When the ambulance arrived, Julie had a pulse and was faintly breathing on her own.

Julie was rushed to Region's hospital in St Paul.  She was intubated and sedated.  After preforming a CT scan, Julie was diagnosed with a ruptured aneurysm in the front part of her brain directly off the carotid artery.  She had quite a bit of blood and pressure rush to her brain.  She was quickly moved to IR for an angiogram,  followed by placing a cerebral coil at the location of the bleed.  Initial CT scans showed the procedure to be a success at stopping the bleeding in the brain.  Julie was stabilized after the procedure in the SICU.

Post-surgery, pressures continued to build in her brain and Julie was sent back into surgery.  This operation drilled through her skull and inserted tubes into the brain to relieve and monitor pressure.   This operation seems to be a success as well.


We were told that the aneurysm is most likely a genetic issue that has been with her most of her life.  The fact that she was working out at the time had nothing to do with the aneurysm rupture.  Most likely the rupture would have occurred regardless of physical activity.  We are thankful she had people around her to start care immediately.


Currently, Mom is back in SICU, stabilized on life support and in a medically induced coma.  The actual condition of her brain after the events of today is unknown.  It may take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks of medically induced coma to determine the condition of her brain. 


Our family has gathered at the hospital.  We are asking for your prayers and thoughts through this difficult time.  She has spent her life caring for her family and for countless patients and other families through her nursing profession.  Today she needs all the prayers, thoughts and care we can give her.