Queen of Little Rock’s Airwaves Returns to Work

Queen of Little Rock’s Airwaves Returns to Work After Brain Aneurysm

Sonta Jean, Midday Air Personality, KOKY

Staff welcomes Sonta Jean Back to work

Signs Welcomed Sonta Jean Back to KOKY

Staff at KOKY says she is their miracle. Sonta Jean, midday air personality, a.k.a. the “Queen of Little Rock’s Airwaves,” returned to work recently after suffering a brain aneurysm.
We all hear about brain aneurysms but do we really understand what they are? A brain aneurysm is a bulging, weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain. Most brain aneurysms cause no symptoms and go unnoticed. In some cases, the brain aneurysm may rupture and release blood into the skull and cause a stroke. They can be fatal.
A ruptured aneurysm will cause severe headaches, blurred vision, changes in speech and neck pain. If you or anyone you know are having these symptoms, call 911 immediately. African-Americans are more likely than whites to have an aneurysm. Most brain aneurysms are only discovered during an unrelated test or checkup.
Jean explains what happen in her situation. “I started to have an excruciating headache and went to the emergency room,” she says. “I told the doctor the headaches could have been caused by other symptoms so they did not check for an aneurysm.” After losing her balance after the severe headaches reoccurred that evening, she was rushed back to the hospital a second time. During that visit it was discovered she had an aneurysm and was immediately rushed into surgery.
Back in the swing and fully recovered, Sonta, returned to work to a parade of people welcoming her back. “It was the best feeling ever,” she says. “It was overwhelming. When you go through something like this, you live each day like it is your last.” Miraculously, Sonta did not have any brain injury that affected her motor skills, speech or cognitive skills. “I am truly blessed– thank God,” she said.
Jean wants people to learn from her experience and recommends going straight to the emergency room at the sign of any severe headaches. And she says, “Don’t try to self-diagnosis.”