Lucille Hanas’ story of survival and gratitude

Lucille “Lucy” Hanas has always been the kind of person who keeps moving.

She still describes herself the same way she always has: independent, active and always on the go.  She’s a mother of 2 and a grandmother of 7 — someone who helps others, not the other way around.

“I’m a very independent woman,” she says. “I love to keep busy and help people.”

That’s what made everything that followed so unexpected.

A spring day in Plains

On a spring day in 2024, Mrs. Hanas went to a pavilion in Plains — just another ordinary outing. There were no warning signs that anything was wrong.

She suddenly collapsed, and a nearby police officer, Bill Poulos, saw what happened and called for help.

Ms. Hanas doesn’t remember any of it. What followed was an ambulance ride, trauma care and weeks in the hospital — including about 6 weeks in the ICU.

The fall left her with a broken nose and a head injury. The cause was a ruptured brain aneurysm. 

“That quick response got me to the hospital in time,” she says. 

By October, after months of care and rehab, she was back home. Driving again. Living her life. It felt like she had made it through the worst.

Back in the hospital

For months, Ms. Hanas stayed on track with follow-ups at Geisinger — monitoring, check-ins and doing everything right.

In late January 2026, she went in for what was supposed to be a routine procedure to treat a smaller aneurysm. She went home the next day. But by the following morning, everything had changed again.

“I woke up with very bad pain on my right side and down my leg,” she recalls. “It had never happened before. It was really bad.”

As her son-in-law helped her downstairs, she became drenched in sweat — then passed out twice. By the time they got her into the car, she was vomiting and struggling to stay conscious.

“I was praying,” she says. “I was so sick, I didn’t think I was going to make it.”

At Geisinger, imaging revealed a dangerous complication. A pseudoaneurysm in her femoral artery — a weakened area that was bleeding internally. At the same time, a clot had formed, blocking blood flow. 

“They said if I didn’t get there in time, I would have bled out,” Ms. Hanas says. “I would have had a stroke.”

“They made me feel safe”

Ms. Hanas was more frightened than she had been the first time.

“This was worse than my aneurysm,” she says. “Nothing really scares me. But that day, I was really scared.”

What stands out to her now isn’t just what was done but how it felt.

“The doctors and nurses made me feel so safe, so comforted and that I was in good hands,” she says. “I called them all my angels.”

Her care spanned multiple teams — from emergency care to intensive care to surgery and recovery. Neurosurgeon Zaid Aljuboori, MD, and vascular surgeon Boyoung Song, MD, played key roles in treating both the aneurysm and the vascular complication.

“Lucille presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured brain aneurysm, which is a life-threatening condition that requires rapid diagnosis and highly specialized care,” Dr. Aljuboori said. “At Geisinger, we offer advanced cerebrovascular expertise. Moreover, we have advanced neurocritical care resources and multidisciplinary teams. These factors resulted in a highly coordinated efforts between neurosurgery, critical care and other services that enabled timely stabilization and definitive treatment, ultimately resulting in a favorable outcome. Lucille’s case highlights the critical importance of having the necessary expertise and facilities to manage complex neurologic emergencies and improve patient survival. “

“He gave me my life back,” Ms. Hanas says of Dr. Aljuboori. “He has the hands of God.”

Even in the hospital, she made sure people knew how she felt.

“When the head nurse asked how the care was, I said, ‘They are phenomenal here. They deserve a raise,’" she recalls, laughing.

Recovery, together

Today, Ms. Hanas is recovering at her daughter’s home, where she is surrounded by family.

There’s a hospital bed set up for her, and she does physical and occupational therapy and has visiting nurses. Her days follow a steady routine focused on rebuilding strength. But more than that, there’s constant support.

Her son-in-law drives her to appointments. Her daughter helps with daily care. Her grandchildren pitch in however they can.

It’s a shift from the life she’s used to — relying on others instead of being the one others rely on. But she’s focused on what’s ahead.

“I’m doing much better every day,” she says. “I just feel like it’s not going to be long before I’m on the road again like Willie Nelson.”

A life reframed by gratitude

Ms. Hanas talks about gratitude often. It’s in the way she holds onto the people who showed up when she needed them most.

“I’m doing wonderfully, and I have the best doctors, the best care and I am so blessed,” she says. “The police officer, the doctor, my family — they are all my heroes.”

 “She has an amazing family, and they were there every day,” Dr. Aljuboori says. “They were committed and dedicated to supporting her throughout her journey.”

She even tracked down Officer Poulos, who first helped her, and thanked him in person.

She knows how close she came to the end more than once. And she doesn’t shy away from saying it.

“There is heaven on earth,” she says. “There are miracles — and I am one.”

It’s the message she shares with anyone who will listen: friends, neighbors and even strangers.

Get care quickly. Trust the people helping you and hold on to hope — because sometimes everything can change in a moment, and sometimes you get another chance.

Next steps: 

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Learn about neurosurgery at Geisinger
Learn about vascular surgery at Geisinger