Relief for Kara & Fam: Healing from Brain Surgery

Hello! Kara K here. I’m humbly reaching out to ask for your help while my family and I navigate a health crisis that has turned our world upside down. I’ve started this GoFundMe to support my family through this incredibly challenging time. Your contribution—whether financial, spiritual, or in-kind—would mean the world to us. Thank you for taking the time to visit this page and for any kindness you can share. It truly takes a village, and I am so grateful to have you in mine.

Over the past seven months, I’ve faced relentless medical challenges that have left me unable to provide for my family as I once did. From navigating surgeries to managing daily life with limited energy and mobility, it’s been a struggle just to stay afloat. But through it all, I’ve been reminded of the kindness of others and the power of community. Your support can help lighten the load and give us a chance to rebuild during this difficult time.

Peace be with you!

-Kara

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

In 2016/2017, I had severe neurological symptoms like dizziness, confusion, weakness, inability to talk, and episodes of coma-like sleep. I was told these symptoms were psychosomatic and diagnosed with psychogenic seizures, attributed to being bipolar. Therapy and psych meds were recommended, and I was put on disability. However, in 2024, I found old medical records mentioning Chiari Malformation, a brain condition where the cerebellum is compressed at the base of the skull. This condition matched many of my symptoms. I found a neurosurgeon in Boston who performed decompression surgery to create more space for my brain.

Initially, recovery seemed okay, but soon after, I had neurological symptoms again and developed a large fluid-filled swelling at the back of my head. This was diagnosed as a pseudomeningocele—cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaking from the surgical site. Surgeons repaired the leak, but the swelling returned and was misdiagnosed as a seroma (non-CSF fluid buildup). After months of worsening symptoms, it became clear that my brain was still leaking CSF.

Through my own research, I connected my symptoms to idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), a condition of high brain pressure. My doctor reviewed my original MRI and finally confirmed I had IIH, which explained everything—including the persistent CSF leaks. Instead of repairing the leak again, I had a shunt surgery (lumbo-peritoneal shunt) to relieve the pressure. Immediately after surgery, I felt incredible relief, validating the IIH diagnosis.

Unfortunately, the relief didn’t last. I’ve developed severe abdominal pain and multiple fluid collections (likely CSF) in my abdomen and spine, indicating the shunt is malfunctioning. I now have recurring symptoms of high ICP—headaches, blurry vision, and neurological episodes, especially when lying down. My doctors have confirmed the shunt needs surgical correction, and I’m preparing for another surgery (scheduled for 1/22) to address this malfunction and finally stabilize my condition.

WHY I'M FINALLY REACHING OUT FOR HELP

So my kids can stay in their current school

My 9 year old son was horribly bullied in 2nd grade at his last school, so we school-choiced him and his twin sister to their current elementary school a year ago for his mental health. Since they are technically school choice (despite his 504 plan), and even though it is because of a mental health issue, we do not get the support of the school system for transportation. The school has been an immensely stabilizing force since I've been sick, and since the kids’ two grandparents recently died over the last 1.5 years, so it would be highly traumatizing for them to have to change back if we couldn't swing the transportation anymore.

So my daughter doesn't have a nervous breakdown

My 22 year old daughter has been holding the bag when it comes to transportation for SEVEN MONTHS, and this was starting only one month after my mother (who was a second mother to her) had just died in May. It was only supposed to be a month-long commitment, for during the summer. That's why we originally signed-on to this in the first place. But she got stuck doing car duty for months, with no end in sight. I used to be the family Uber, but now I have barely driven a handful of times over 7 months, and she has had to take on the burden of driving everyone everywhere (since my partner doesn't have a license). It starts at 5:30 am taking him to work, with an 8 am run of kids to school and my sister to the bus for work. Then there’s a lull until the other end, when at 2 pm she picks up my sister and partner from work, and at 315 the kids from school. THEN she goes to work herself! All at TWENTY-TWO!!!!!

So I can heal

I guess it goes without saying, but I need to finally heal. In order to do so, I need to simply sit and do nothing. No cleaning, no dog walking, no nothing. That's hard for me, as a MOM. And without support, it's impossible. There's just too much to be done.

HOW WILL YOUR MONEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Unlike many in this country, I am truly blessed that my medical costs are covered by the government, since I receive disability benefits. However, those benefits don't cover much, and there are hidden costs that we cannot cover in order for our family to survive this. The following is a breakdown of how we intend to use the funds we generate from this campaign:

#1 Transportation

As a family, we simply can no longer sustain the physical, mental and financial toll of transportation. We need help with all shifts of transport, as mentioned above. We plan to utilize a mix of public and private transportation to alleviate the burden of driving and hope this campaign will enable us to do so. This is the most pressing need we have.

#2 Dog Walking

Also, I really need to get serious and hunker down and HEAL, which means no dog walking or helping around the house (not that I was good at that anyway LOL). I am home alone during the day and there is nobody to walk our doggo Banjo, so we need to hire someone during the am to take him on a short jaunt so I am not straining and reinjuring myself and can make the healing process as fast as possible.

#3 Bills

Finally, we need a little help with the bills that I am unable to supplement so we can stay warm this winter. Though I get disability benefits, I usually make a little money through my small business that supplements the cost of our winter heating and electric bills. This year, I have not worked for 7 months, which has materially hurt us. A little help from our friends would go a LONG way towards keeping us warm as I heal up.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP (that don't cost moolah)

Volunteer to drive a shift (around 8am or 2pm or 315 pm)

Volunteer to walk the dog (10am/11am ish)

Make a meal

Come hang, play music, give me a call, & just be a friend! ❤️

email [email redacted] or text [phone redacted] if you'd like to set something up!

Thank you again for stopping by my GoFundMe! There are a lot of reasons and people to donate to in the world. Please know how much I appreciate your love and kind support at my family's time of need. Know I feel your care no matter how much or even if you are able to give. Be well and take care - Kara