GIG HARBOR, Wash. — Families across the region are rallying behind a Gig Harbor gymnastics coach who is recovering from a brain aneurysm. Now, the family is raising awareness about the subtle symptoms to possibly save other lives.
Aimee Hentschell, of Gig Harbor, is known for coaching athletes and shaping their lives, teaching them to never give up.
But recently, she was forced to embrace her lesson after her life was threatened.
Hentschell often experiences headaches and neck pain due to the nature of her job as a coach, her daughter, Bella Hentschell, told KIRO 7 News.
But on March 20, she woke up with a massive headache.
“My mom was distressed and said, ‘I have the worse headache of my life and my vision is going blurry,’” said Bella Hentschell, daughter.
She was rushed to the hospital where doctors discovered she suffered a brain aneurysm.
“He (doctor) rated it on a four on the severity level, with five being the worst,” said Bella. “She had a higher chance of losing her life than surviving and that was absolutely terrifying to hear.”
Bella said her mother normalized the headaches and neck pain due to coaching, and didn’t realize they were symptoms of a brain aneurysm.
“That was the aneurysm, but no one would’ve known because she’s used to experiencing those types of things,” the daughter said.
Hentschell, a gymnastics coach in Kent, received an outpouring of support from children she coaches, wishing the single mother of three to get well.
“A lot of kids saying they have been praying together just to make sure she comes back to the gym,” said Yulia Hancheroff, owner of Metropolitan Gymnastics.
While Hentschell is recovering, her family is now raising awareness about the symptoms, which they said could be overlooked by many.
“We have to be really aware what’s happening to us, especially adults with teachers or coaches because if we can’t take care of ourselves, we can’t take of our kids,” said Hancheroff.
“If you’re experiencing any weird neck pains or headaches, I would encourage you to go to the doctor because you don’t want your loved ones to be worried that you’re going to lose your life to something like this,” said Bella.
Loved ones created a GoFundMe to help the single mother of three as she fights back to recover.
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