Hello there! My name is Cara and I'm a 25-year-old lover of Jesus who is currently living out my childhood dream of being a marine mammal trainer at Seaworld Orlando. It is such a blessing to have been given the opportunity to have the job I have wanted since I was 3 years old. Sadly though, in order to physically continue my job that I love so much and to be able to comfortably function in everyday life, I'm going to have to fix my neck. I have been diagnosed with Chiari malformation (CM) and cranial cervical instability (CCI). Basically, my neck is having a harder and harder time supporting my head because of a plethora of torn or damaged ligaments, leading to my vertebrae moving and shifting in ways they should not. On top of this, my brain is slightly too large for my skull so the bottom of it is touching my spinal cord which is definitely not supposed to happen. All of this, as you can imagine, leads to very debilitating symptoms such as migraines, brain fog, dizziness, loss of feeling in my extremities, extreme pressure in my head and behind my eyes, cold sensitivities and poor circulation in my hands, and the buildup of fluid on my brain. Having both these conditions can certainly make everyday life very difficult and could eventually lead to me being bed-ridden or in a wheelchair by my 40s or 50s because my ligaments will no longer have the strength to consistently support my head.

There is no cure for CM or CCI, but by the grace of God there is hope! An upper cervical doctor in Denver, Colorado is the only one in the country who has developed and performed a very specialized procedure called PICL. In this procedure, stem cells are harvested from the base of my spinal cord and then, using a very long needle, injected through the back of my throat into my spine between cervical vertebrae 0 and 2 or 3. Don't worry, I'll be asleep for the procedures thank goodness. Then, Lord willing, the stem cells will regenerate and strengthen the upper cervical of my spine and allow me to regain more of a normal life. Needless to say, this procedure could be a life-changer for me! But unfortunately it is very expensive and insurance will not cover any of it. The procedure itself costs $12,500 and I will require 2 or 3 procedures, not to mention travel costs associated with 3 visits to Denver of at least 4 days each time.

So, I am humbly asking you for any financial assistance you feel led to provide. And even if you can't help financially, please pray for me. I believe in a mighty Lord and savior that once said that you can move mountains if you only had the faith of a mustard seed. So, even if you don’t have a dollar or two to spare, a mustard seed will do just fine :) Thank you, God bless, and go Vols.