Geraldton resident Sam Prunster should have died 10 years ago.
On December 6, 2012 she was in her element on the netball court when she collapsed.
Ms Prunster had been suffering from a bad headache all day, describing the pain as similar to being stabbed in the back of the neck with a knife.
At the age of 25 she discovered she had multiple brain aneurysms, but was told there was a one-in-five million chance of the bulges on her arteries rupturing.
"I was that one in five million," Ms Prunster said.
"It was so painful; I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy."
Frightened by the knowledge her aunty died from a ruptured aneurysm at the age of 42, Ms Prunster pleaded with her sisters to look after her children if the worst happened.
She was quickly flown from Geraldton to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for treatment for bleeding on the brain, but remembers little of her time there until she woke up after an operation to install a shunt on February 14, 2013.
"That was the last operation. [The doctors] said, 'If this doesn't work, there's nothing we can do for her'," she said.
"They pretty much told my family to say goodbye to me.
"I'm a walking miracle, the doctors have told me."
For more than four months Ms Prunster was in hospital, where she slowly regained her ability to walk, talk and take care of herself.
It was a painstaking process for the once proudly independent 40-year-old, who said no amount of determination could bring back many aspects of her life before her injury.
"I know it sounds really selfish, but I mourn my old life because there are just things that I just can't do anymore … it's so frustrating," she said.
"It affected every aspect of my life. In the past 10 years, I've lost my marriage, my business, my house … pretty much my life."
'Silver lining' from hospital stay
Ms Prunster is learning to accept her limits, but said there was one loss she would forever grieve.
"I know it sounds stupid, but if someone was to ask me what I miss the most, it would be netball," she said.
"Netball was my life, I was so passionate about it. It was my social outlet and where I made so many friends.
"I was respected in netball … I miss being that good at something."
She did attempt to get back on the court — against the advice of her doctor — but this cost her another week in the hospital.
But Ms Prunster said some good had come from her injury.
"I went into hospital a smoker and came out a non-smoker, so that's a silver lining," she said.
It's a time of her life she preferred not to dwell on, but Ms Prunster decided to share her story now to encourage others.
"Never give up and never give in, that was my mantra in hospital," she said.
"I've had some horrible stuff happen to me and it's just made me stronger.
"Instead of saying, 'Why me?' Now I say, 'Try me!'"
