At first, I didn’t know what was happening to me. It wasn’t until after I drove myself to the hospital that I discovered it was a brain aneurysm. I worried about what that would mean for my life and my work. Luckily, I had people looking out for me.

I was with a client when I first noticed that something was wrong. She was telling me about her thoughts on the house, but her voice didn’t sound right. She sounded far away and echo-y. It was like listening to someone who was in a tunnel. She didn’t indicate that anything seemed off, so I tried to remain professional, hoping it was just a bizarre brain glitch and would pass. I didn’t want to worry her, and we were at the very end of the meeting, so I gave her a friendly farewell and rushed to my car.

At this point, the struggle had progressed from impaired hearing to impaired movement, as my neck had locked up and I couldn't move it in any direction. I got behind the steering wheel and as carefully as I could, I pulled onto the street. But after driving a block it was getting worse, and I was beginning to panic. I pulled over and parked my car, allowed myself a minute to freak out, then pulled myself together so I could decide what to do next.

This wasn’t normal, and it was getting worse. I felt a burning sensation going up my neck into my brain. What could this be? Was it a stroke? That seemed intense. Was it really that bad? It couldn’t be. Should I call someone? No one would even be able to come get me right now. Should I call an ambulance?  I likely should have. But of all the silly things to worry about, I wasn’t in the best neighborhood and didn’t want to leave my car parked there.

Instead, I drove my car 24 miles to the hospital. There I discovered that I was, in fact, suffering from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Ironically, the fact that I drove myself there, may have helped in the long run, forcing me to remain active in the time it took me to reach the hospital. I’m a rare statistic as only a small percentage of people that survive aneurysm are unaffected.

Of course, my condition was not something that this hospital took care of. I was transported by ambulance to UCSF Medical Center, where I had brain surgery and spent 16 days in the Neuro ICU.

I was blessed to have the support of my family, friends and co-workers during this difficult time.  My mother flew in the next day from Alabama not knowing if I would survive the surgery.  She took great care of me and supported me selflessly and with love. My boyfriend of 14 years and both of my daughters infused me with courage and handled everything for me so that I could focus on healing.  I am forever grateful for my family’s love and support.

A lot of companies talk a big game about being a family but aren’t really there for their team when they need them. I was so worried that I’d be facing that hypocrisy at work. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong. Every agent in our office has our brokers personal cell phone with them, and we are free to call them anytime if we need anything. The person who came through for me the most during this time was my friend and co-worker. Often, if one of us needed help, the other stepped in. When I ended up in the ICU, she didn’t even bat an eye. She knew how much I needed her and took on all of my clients and work for me.

When I returned to work, everyone was incredibly supportive, and I realized that the other agents in my office were not rivals. We were part of a team, and they genuinely wanted what was best for me. This is the only job I’ve ever had where I truly felt supported and cared for like that.

In my own work, I want to be that person for my clients. I want them to know they’re important to me, and I will be there to take care of them. I can offer you that same support.

No two transactions are alike. It’s what I love about this job. I came to the real estate industry with customer service experience and have continued to provide it ever since. That means walking them through the process, showing them respect, and having open, honest communication. I update them often and make sure that they understand what I’m doing and why. I also apprenticed for an appraiser, which has granted me specialized knowledge, which has proven invaluable. My background growing up in a military family has resulted in my care for military personnel and veterans. I’ll always fight for my clients. I become very protective of them. And this job does often go beyond finding a client their new home. It’s about keeping them safe. I take that responsibility very seriously. I even educate them on the responsibilities they will have as homeowners, so they are as prepared as possible. I’d love the opportunity to give you that same service and support.

With gratitude,

Stacey Sandoe
REALTOR®