Karlie (Wisemore) Van Polen had been experiencing severe head pain since December of 2024. Then March of 2025 she started having hand weakness and cold sensations. All these symptoms were related to her Chiari Malformation.

Karlie had surgery at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle to remove scar tissue from her brain stem area, on Thursday, July 24th. This was her 9th surgery and 5th surgery related to her Chiari.

Karlie was supposed to be discharged on July 29th but they discovered a cerebrospinal fluid leak.

On July 30th they put in a drain to solve the issue and to be sure there wasn’t any infection.

August 6th, Karlie was finally discharged from the hospital!!!

However, with Drew, her husband, having had to stay three hours from home in a motel to be close to Karlie and meals in the cafeteria for close to two weeks, comes cost! Karlie has insurance that will cover some of her hospital bills, but as with any surgery/hospital stay, insurance rarely covers everything. As hard as it is to be going through medical procedures, the waiting, wondering and change of plans (sometimes hourly) it can sometimes be difficult to allow others to join you in your pain, suffering and worries about what tomorrow may bring. Receiving financial assistance from other people is not something most people want to have happen, but little do we realize how much we, personally want to help others when we have the chance and means to do so ourselves.

Drew & Karlie thank you for all your prayers and support as they walk this healing journey!