My name is Luz Marin, and I am fundraising for my nephew Alejandro Castaño-Marin. He was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, a structural defect in the back of the skull, where the lower part of the brain presses on and through an opening in the base of the skull and cerebellum into the spinal canal. He also suffers from Syringomyelia which is the development of a fluid-filled cyst within the spinal cord. Over time, the cyst can enlarge, damaging your spinal cord and causing pain, weakness and stiffness, among other symptoms.

Alejandro is a normal and healthy boy, but the syndrome will evolve and have significant health burden on him in the future. Alejandro and his family are seeking out surgical solutions to improve his quality of life and delay the advancement of his disease. This surgery is only will take place in Barcelona, Spain at the Institut Chiari & Siringomielia & Escoliosis de Barcelona, which is unavailable in his home country of Colombia.

The surgery will cost €19,000 and will not be covered by his medical insurance in Colombia. This surgery will place significant financial burden on his family, and we are fundraising to support him through this difficult time.