Young Patient Reunites with Physicians After Brain Aneurysm

One year after experiencing a life-threatening brain aneurysm, Brooke Riggs, 19, and her family, visited a few of the team members at Adventist Health Bakersfield who helped save her life.

“I never got to meet the care team and wanted to let them know I’m still here because of them,” says Brooke. 

A sudden medical emergency

The Bakersfield resident recalls the moment leading up to her Emergency Department (ED) visit at Adventist Health Bakersfield on May 22, 2025.

“It was my dad’s birthday and the day of my senior year graduation trip,” says Riggs. “I was at home getting ready when I got a bad headache and heard a loud popping sound that I thought was coming from outside. Turns out, it was coming from my head because of an aneurysm. I laid down and don’t remember much after that.”

Riggs’ older sister was home at the time and quickly called their mother to let her know something wasn’t right.

“When I got home, Brooke was unconscious on the floor,” says Becky Riggs, Brooke’s mom. “I called 911 immediately, and then called Brooke’s dad, who rode with her in the ambulance to the hospital.”

A CT scan revealed bleeding in the brain due to arteriovenous malformation (AVM), which is a tangle of arteries and veins in the brain that disrupts normal blood flow. The medical team was able to stop the bleeding and monitor Brooke in the intensive care unit (ICU) until she could be transferred to a facility for a higher level of care and rehabilitation.

Reuniting with the team that saved her life

Fast forward one year later, Brooke is doing well and joined her mom, dad, brother, and grandparents during a visit to the hospital on May 21, 2026, to take photos and give Thank You cards and treats to their hospital heroes.

Among those heroes, Mehran Baheri, MD, ED physician, and Pejman Soheli, MD, ICU physician.

“Everyone was so calm and direct, but compassionate, the night of the emergency,” says Becky. “They didn’t sugar coat anything but were honest and reassuring at the same time.”

A promise that brought comfort

Brooke’s dad, Robert Riggs, who is a sergeant with the Kern County Sheriff's Office's Air Unit, says he was upset and crying that night. He said he’ll never forget the words from Dr. Soheli that helped console him.

“The doctor told me, ‘Hey, we don’t lose 18 years old here,’” says Robert, which gave him comfort that the physicians would do everything in their power to save his daughter’s life. “I was like, alright, and they kept that promise.” 

Becky says the physicians and staff were appreciative of the recent visit and treats. She said many of them remembered Brooke and the exact room number she stayed in during her treatment. The family shared updates on what Brooke has been up to since the incident and the status of her recovery.

“I was scared every step of the way but had so much love and support from friends and family that it made my healthcare journey so much easier,” says Brooke. 

A bright future ahead

She’s now focused on her future and is attending Bakersfield College, with the goal of becoming a veterinarian ─ a dream she’s had since the 7th grade. Her love for animals is apparent by the number of pets she has at home: two dogs, a bird, and two guinea pigs.

“I want to help others, the way the hospital team helped me,” says Brooke.

“She’s made massive improvement,” says Becky. “Her father and I probably didn’t say ‘thank you’ to the hospital staff the first time because there was so much going on, so we wanted to make sure we returned to personally say thank you for saving our daughter’s life.”