Donate to Caroline McCaffrey's WeRunWithYou Cause at this link
Life can change suddenly and harshly. A bright morning can transform into a dismal evening. Bucknell rising sophomore Caroline McCaffrey went out for her typical morning run on Father's Day and found herself hours later fighting for her life in a hospital. She did not forget to look both ways before crossing the street or neglect to tie her running shoes. Instead, she suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm that started an odyssey of three different hospitals, two emergency surgeries, and two additional surgeries. After undergoing extensive rehabilitation and recalibration, the runner has set her goal to participate in the Philadelphia Marathon's 8k event this weekend. McCaffrey's love of running now has another goal attached: raising awareness and money for WeRunWithYou, an organization dedicated to supporting those impacted by brain aneurysms and strokes.
June 15 provided a bright and sunny morning for running. McCaffrey, as befitting a dedicated athlete, arose for her traditional run. Her mother decided to accompany her - another one of those innocent decisions that so often prove life-changing - on her bike. The pair was less than a mile from their house when McCaffrey felt a slight kink in her neck. Accustomed to habitually cracking her knuckles and the wear-and-tear from running, she cracked her neck. She accomplished the feat, and immediately, the worst headache she ever felt materialized. McCaffrey described the pain as being beaten with hydraulic presses.
They called her father to pick her up. McCaffrey, dealing with unexplainable pain and knowing she is susceptible to migraines, tried to categorize the sudden result as such. The rationalization worked until she began throwing up, and then her vision began flickering. The family rushed her to the local hospital. The staff tried to tell her it was only a migraine. Her mother pushed back against the incorrect diagnosis. The doctor eventually relented and ran a CAT scan, which revealed a startling discovery: blood on the brain.
The hospital sent her to Johns Hopkins. Normally, that situation would calm the waters, but recent floods broke a machine. Additional complications arose. Since most 18-year-olds do not have brain aneurysms, their pediatric department did not converse with their neurology department, forcing fervent discussions. Maryland Hospital, near her home, agreed to take her if Hopkins drained her head to relieve the pressure. Hopkins agreed to the terms. She spent 20 days in the hospital, including nine days in the ICU. When the doctors performed open brain surgery, they uncovered another unwelcome surprise - an unruptured brain aneurysm. This time, the condition was ambushed instead of launching a surprise attack. The situation was discovered by sending a camera up her body via an incision in her leg.
Hospital stays are exercises in mental durability. Daytime television, the unscenic views, the sterile walls, the bland nourishment, and the environmental pall can dampen even the brightest spirits. The best defense against those feelings resides in visits from family and friends, or in McCaffrey's case, teammates. She was also fortunate enough to receive a solo room, which made it easy to handle her guests.
The Bucknell Cross Country and Track & Field teams are a close-knit conglomerate. Fiercely proud and protective, they rallied around their fallen teammate and trekked to Maryland to raise her spirits. Her roommate, Katie Moncavage, and Tori Chace were two of the most frequent visitors. Head coach Kevin Donner and volunteer distance coach Rob Guissanie made the six-hour round trip twice to see their runner. Their appearances particularly touched McCaffrey, who appreciated their dedication and the time they sacrificed to see her.
The teammates, both male and female, who couldn't make it, reach out all the time. Their care and concern had a profound emotional impact on McCaffrey. It often takes tragedy for us to realize how large our circle of caring really is.
She plans to return to Bucknell for the spring semester. A dedicated scholar and Biology major, she accumulated enough AP and college credits during her high school tenure that the missed semester will not impact her graduate date in 2028. A return to competition will have to wait until Fall 2026, but her smile will again brighten the banks of Susquehanna.
Currently, McCaffrey is training for the Philadelphia Marathon's 8k race. She will either run or walk the length, which converts to just under five miles. For most people, five miles is unfathomable, to traverse the distance five months after a brain aneurysm and extended hospital stay, testified to her indomitable spirit. She isn't focused on a specific time. It is immaterial. Her goal is to raise money for a cause. That goal has a specific number: $10,000. As of the publication date, the pot sits at $9,910.
Her family inspired her training. After returning home, she and the kin began with short walks designed to recharge her batteries. Her brother, home from Georgia Tech, participated in the ventures as part of his training for a half Ironman. The early walks were short, about half a mile, before working their way up to five miles. She also received clearance to start running and has reached the two-mile mark.
The routine prepared her for larger expeditions, including a trip to the giant-created Watkins Glen gorge. She visited over fall break with her roommate's family and traveled through the impeccably hewn trailways. The itinerary also included a side trip to the picturesque town of Ithaca. The largest recovery from a traumatic experience is returning to normalcy. McCaffrey's participation played a role in that process.
She had another once-in-a-lifetime experience when she met her favorite singer, Noah Kahan, at the All Things Go festival. Her mother once again headlined the role. She emailed the event but did not receive a reply. They were disappointed but understood the situation. The morning of the event, McCaffrey is shaken awake by her mother at 5 a.m., who says they responded and requested her presence backstage.
McCaffrey, her mother, and two friends were ushered backstage and received individualized time with Kahan. He played Call Your Mom for the quartet and allowed one of her friends to play his guitar. Often, the saying "don't meet your heroes" is sadly proven today, but Kahan bucked that trend. His kindness gave McCaffrey a memory she will never forget.
As she works toward the ideal shape for the Philadelphia Marathon and prepares for her triumphant Bucknell return, McCaffrey reflects on the massive support delivered by the Bison community. Classmates and community members have mailed letters and donated to her campaign. As she put it, people don't expect a young, Division I athlete to have a brain aneurysm. It tugs at the heartstrings. It reminds everyone of how fragile and precious life is. We are, after all, like vapor.
She admitted that her condition isn't readily apparent to observers. Her hair was shaved for the surgery but now it has started to reclaim its previous length and covered the scar. That situation serves as a metaphorical reminder that you are never sure of what battles a stranger or friend is fighting. C.S. Lewis once wrote, "I have learned now that while those who speak about one's miseries usually hurt, those who keep silence hurt more."
The percentage of McCaffrey's situation occurring to a young, healthy Division I student-athlete calculates at a staggeringly low 0.000005%. To be laid low, left fighting for her life, to have a semester of school delayed, and to be prevented from running with her cross-country sisters could understandably conjure bitter feelings. McCaffrey has refused to allow her heart to require surgery from that potent disease. She has returned multiple times to Bucknell for weekend visits and attended the Patriot League Championships to cheer on her teammates as the squad finished second - its highest placement since 2019.
The Bison sophomore now carries something powerful in every stride - a theme of resilience and strength. Competing for a cause is a powerful motivator. She epitomizes the model Bucknell student-athlete and the earnest survivor. Life is a privilege, and McCaffrey will use her second chance to raise awareness for all those fighting for theirs. Whether she chooses to run or walk this weekend, McCaffrey will be the biggest winner in Philly.