But now, Providence Everett Hospital has a new treatment that can save lives after an aneurysm strikes.

By the time 95-year-old Lawrence Bryant landed in the ER at Providence Everett, it didn't sound good.

"I was having pain for two days - very severe pain around my stomach, around my body and down my legs," said Bryant.

Doctors discovered a ruptured aneurysm in his aorta.

The traditional treatment would be open surgery. But at 95 years old, Lawrence had little chance of living through it. So a stent graft, saved his life.

Doctors insert the graft through the groin and up to the aorta, where it strengthens the artery.

Until now, the procedure has been used to only prevent aneurysms from rupturing. Providence Everett is one of the first hospitals in the country to train the medical staff and stock the grafts in the emergency room to treat patients after an aneurysm.

"This will allow us to help more people and improve the mortality of this otherwise devastating disease," said Dr. Mark Papenhausen.

The graft procedure gives a patient a far better chance of surviving than they have with traditional surgery, where only half make it.

Because of his age, he had just a 5 percent chance of living through surgery. With the graft treatment, he was back on his feet in a week.

"Thank God I'm alive today. Thanks to my doctor right there," said Bryant of Dr. Papenhausen.

Lawrence says now he's really looking forward to the next five years.