Give in Memory of Joana — Support Brain AVM Research
Honoring Joana Catherine Odencrantz (1969–2012)
Help us turn loss into hope by supporting brain AVM research, education, and awareness.
Joana Catherine Odencrantz
January 14, 1969 – November 5, 2012
A life of learning. A legacy of giving. Forever my sister.
Joana's Story: A Life Dedicated to Learning
Joana Catherine Odencrantz was a scholar, educator, independent thinker, and my older sister. She believed fiercely in the power of education, and she worked extraordinarily hard to pursue it.
Born in San Diego, California, to George and Elizabeth Odencrantz, Joana was a voracious reader from childhood. Books were her entertainment, and learning became one of the defining passions of her life.
Joana worked her way through college, beginning at a local community college before transferring to San Diego State University. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1995, achieving membership in Phi Beta Kappa and the Golden Key Honor Society.
She continued her education while supporting herself, earning her master's degree from San Diego State University in 1999. Her thesis examined how political power was maintained in Egypt during the latter part of the 20th century.
Her academic accomplishments earned her a fellowship at the University of Utah, where she pursued her doctorate in Political Science, specializing in Middle Eastern studies.
Joana's academic journey was not easy. She faced challenges navigating a male-dominated academic environment, including disagreements over the direction of her dissertation. But she persevered, determined to complete the work she believed in.
Fluent in Arabic and deeply engaged with Middle Eastern politics and culture, Joana taught at the University of Utah and at the American University in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Her academic journey reflected her independence, determination, and lifelong passion for education.
A Life That Reached Across the World
Joana was Muslim, an educator, and a woman whose life crossed borders, languages, and cultures.
When our father held her memorial, people from 32 different countries watched.
That is the kind of impact she made.
Even after her death, Joana continued giving to others by donating her organs and her body to science.
The 20 Years We Almost Didn't Have
Joana was born with five large arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in her brain.
Despite the seriousness of her condition, she lived without any recognized symptoms. Our family was later told that she could have died 20 years earlier.
Joana and I were 20 years apart in age.
Had she died when doctors believed she might have, I would never have known my sister.
Instead, I was given 20 years with her.
Joana passed away on November 5, 2012, at the age of 43, just months after completing the doctorate she had worked so hard to earn.
Turning Her Legacy Into Hope
Joana dedicated her life to learning, teaching, and helping others understand the world.
This November, through The Cat House Waxing & Esthetics Studio, I am honoring her memory by raising awareness of brain AVMs and supporting research and education.
My hope is that sharing her story will help other families while keeping her extraordinary legacy alive.
Please consider making a donation in Joana's memory. Every contribution, no matter the amount, is appreciated.
With love,
Alexis J. Odencrantz
Joana's little sister
Owner, The Cat House Waxing & Esthetics Studio
Understanding Brain AVMs
What is an arteriovenous malformation (AVM)?
A brain arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels that connects arteries directly to veins, disrupting normal blood flow.
Brain AVMs can be present from birth, and some people live with them for years without experiencing noticeable symptoms. Others may experience headaches, seizures, neurological problems, or life-threatening bleeding.
Joana lived with five large congenital brain AVMs without any recognized symptoms.
Her story is a reminder that serious medical conditions are not always visible—and why continued research, education, and awareness are so important.
Research brings knowledge. Knowledge brings hope.
TAAF is dedicated to bettering the lives, support networks, and medical care of those affected by aneurysm and other types of vascular malformation of the brain.
In support of that mission, we have three primary goals that guide foundation activities:
Provide support, including information, resources and motivation, for people with aneurysm and other types of vascular malformation of the brain, their families, caregivers and friends.
Promote education and awareness in the community regarding aneurysm and other types of vascular malformation of the brain.
Provide encouragement and funding for research on aneurysm and other types of vascular malformation of the brain in an effort to advance patient treatment and care.