In February 2024, college freshman Brielle May came home to her parents’ house for a long weekend when the unthinkable happened. Early one morning, Brielle’s mother, Kara, and father, Jeff, found her on the floor having a full-on tonic-clonic seizure before losing consciousness. They immediately called 911, and Brielle was rushed to the nearest hospital.
A week later, she was still in a coma with no signs of improvement. Brielle’s doctors told her parents that there was nothing more they could do and recommended transferring her to Barrow Neurological Institute.
When Brielle arrived at the Barrow Neuro-ICU, a team of neurocritical care specialists rushed to her side. They moved with urgency to stabilize Brielle, making the most of every precious second. The doctors refused to give up, and assured Brielle’s parents that they would fight for her until the very end.
After a rigorous process, they finally secured FDA approval for a compassionate-use drug and had it flown overnight to Barrow. The drug, coupled with other treatments, worked. After six weeks in a coma, Brielle began to wake up. Kara says she will be forever grateful to the Barrow neurocritical care team because “despite it being such a dark time, there was so much beauty in the care, compassion, and thoughtfulness we experienced.” Read Brielle’s Full Story
Supporting More Second Chances
In February 2026, almost two years after beginning her medical journey, Brielle and her family held the “Because of B” walk benefiting the Barrow Neurocritical Care Program. The inspiring event honored Brielle’s courageous battle with FIRES syndrome—a rare and severe epilepsy disorder—and the phenomenal Barrow specialists who saved her life and continue her ongoing care.
Held at the Fountain Park Amphitheater in Fountain Valley, friends, family, and community members gathered for the “Because of B” walk, raising an incredible $36,000 to support life-saving research and treatment in the Barrow Neurocritical Care Program.
“This walk supports Barrow and the work being done there. The research. The care. The teams that are fighting for answers for families just like ours. Families trying to make sense of a devastating condition. That feeling of not knowing what comes next is what pushed us to start this walk.”
– Kara May, Brielle’s mother
The Power of Fundraising Events
You can join Brielle and her family in making a difference in the lives of patients facing complex neurological conditions by hosting your own fundraising event. Whether it’s a community walk, golf tournament, or luncheon, organizing a fundraising event is a powerful way for individuals, organizations, and communities to come together and support the life-changing work funded by Barrow Neurological Foundation.
