Turning Loss Into Lifesaving Action
The Missy Project is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to raising awareness of Brain Aneurysms in children and families through education, outreach, and research. Founded in memory of 12-year-old Missy Magel, The Missy Project carries her legacy forward by preventing the preventable. For over 25 years, we've turned heartbreak into hope, raising awareness, funding groundbreaking research, and offering free community screenings that save lives.
Our Story
The Missy Project was established by the Magel family and friends on November 24, 1999 - what would have been their daughter Marisa (Missy) Magel's 13th birthday. Missy passed away suddenly while at summer camp from a disease they never knew she had...Brain Aneurysm Disease.
In researching the disease that claimed their daughter's life, they were told that Missy's death was rare. However, they discovered that this disease is quite prevalent among children and often misdiagnosed as a migraine headache. Early detection and screening could save lives... So why is it not being done?
This heartbreaking story raises serious concerns about awareness and medical protocols surrounding Brain Aneurysms in children and others..
Why It Matters
Brain Aneurysms claim 32,000 lives every year in the U.S, comparable to prostate cancer or AIDS. Yet aneurysm research receives just a fraction of the funding.
Lack of Awareness, Even Among Medical Professionals
Brain aneurysms are often misdiagnosed in children because it's commonly assumed to be an adult condition. Symptoms like headaches, nausea, or vision problems are frequently mistaken for migraines, sinus infections, or even stress in kids.
Lack of Standardized Screening Protocols
There's no universal screening guideline for brain aneurysms in children—especially those without a known family history or genetic predisposition. MRI or MRA scans, the tools for detection, are expensive and not routinely performed without symptoms or risk indicators.
Insurance and Healthcare System Barriers
Preventive screenings for brain aneurysms may not be covered by insurance unless a clear medical need or family history exists. Many families cannot afford elective imaging tests out-of-pocket, even if they suspect something is wrong.
Limited Research Funding
Pediatric brain aneurysms receive less research attention and funding than other childhood illnesses or more common neurological disorders.
The gap is staggering. Together, we can close it.
The chart below compares the number of annual deaths from breast cancer, prostate cancer, and brain aneurysms to the amount of yearly funding each receives. It highlights the dramatic funding disparity, showing that despite similar death rates, brain aneurysm research receives only a fraction of the support given to other major health issues.
Looking Forward
Our impact is measured not just in numbers, but in lives touched. Families at risk have received free screenings. Physicians have gained knowledge to recognize aneurysms earlier. Researchers have advanced the science of detection. And communities across the country have come together to carry Missy's legacy forward.
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of brain ruptured aneurysms are fatal
Free MRI/MRA screenings provided
of awareness, education, &research
between ruptures in the U.S.
The Three Pillars of Change
These are more than programs; they are promises. We educate families and physicians so no warning sign is ignored. We build awareness so that Brain Aneurysms are recognized as the threat they are. And we invest in research because early detection is the difference between tragedy and survival.
Education
Bi-annual newsletters, in-service sessions for medical professionals, and community outreach to keep Brain Aneurysms on the radar.
Awareness
Events and campaigns, especially during September Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month, to break the silence surrounding this disease.
Research
Funding critical studies and providing over 1,200 free MRI/MRA screenings to families since 2004, advancing early detection and prevention.
Our mission is clear and unwavering:
Prevent the preventable, and give every family the chance at a safer future
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