It is with great regret that I need to relay that Andy Jugan, known here as @electrician, has passed away. Andy was diagnosed with a left temporal AVM after a seizure aged 23. He had a very difficult surgery at Irvine, CA, “flatlining twice” aged about 24 and took two years to recover.
He had a very successful and energetic life up to the age of about 50 when he described that it felt like the power had been switched off. He joined AVM Survivors at the end of August 2016, less than a week after I received my AVM diagnosis. Andy was a keen correspondent here, reading thousands of posts and writing hundreds of replies, often in search of friends going through similar difficulties.
A few days ago, I received the following message from his older brother. Thank you to everyone who is part of AVM Survivors and who reaches out to help others. This is what it means:
Dear AVM Survivor Members,
I am writing to you with a heavy heart to share that my younger brother, Andy, passed away on November 24, 2024, at the age of 60.
Andy was a dedicated electrician who lived his life to the fullest despite suffering from pain and surgical complications for over 36 years post-surgery. He was a true adventurer who continued to race motorcycles, mountain bike, hike, rock climb, and fish, and completed over 30 skydiving jumps, all while knowing the risks his condition posed.
Andy specifically asked me to notify the AVM survivors group of his passing and to personally thank each of you for your encouragement and friendship. The AVM Survivors group was a blessing to him; it provided a home where he could speak openly without judgment, gain feedback, and both give and receive support throughout his journey post-surgery.
On his behalf, I want to thank you and everyone who listened to, supported, and encouraged my brother during his time corresponding on the AVM Survivors platform.
Sincerely,
The Family of Andy Jugan
If anyone has memories of Andy, I’ll make sure that his family get to see any replies.
Richard