Help Keira Get the Life-Changing Surgery She Needs

Hi, my name is Sandy Bachar, and I’ve had the privilege of knowing Lisa and Steve Rydel for over 10 years. The Rydel’s are a local Delco family who have always been involved in their community. Whether leading their Girl Scout troop or teaching CCD they have always given of their time. Today, I’m asking for your help for their oldest daughter, Keira, who urgently needs a specialized surgery that is not available in the United States.

Please take a moment to read Keira’s journey and help if you can.

Keira’s Story

In early 2025, Keira was diagnosed with a rare and debilitating brain condition called Arnold-Chiari Malformation Type I, a disorder in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal, causing severe pain and neurological symptoms.

Keira’s medical challenges, however, began long before this diagnosis. At just 7 years old, she was diagnosed with PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS)—a rare genetic condition that causes benign tumors throughout the body and significantly increases the risk of several cancers, including breast, thyroid, kidney, endometrial, and colorectal cancers.

Keira has spent much of her childhood undergoing constant monitoring and treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, facing each challenge with courage and resilience.

A Difficult Decision

After extensive testing this year, Keira’s neurological team recommended that she take a year off from college and undergo Chiari decompression surgery, an invasive procedure that involves opening the skull. While it offered hope for pain relief, it also came with serious risks—including the potential for spinal cord or brain injury.

The surgery was scheduled for November.

But Keira’s mom never stopped searching for a safer option.

The Hope Found in Barcelona

Through further research, the family discovered the Institut Chiari & Siringomielia & Escoliosis de Barcelona in Spain, where Dr. Miguel B. Royo-Salvador performs a groundbreaking, minimally invasive procedure with outcomes comparable—if not superior—to the traditional surgery recommended in the U.S.

Instead of going through the skull, Dr. Royo-Salvador’s team accesses the filum terminale through a small incision near the tailbone. This reduces surgical risk dramatically while aiming for the same essential goal: relieving the tension and compression caused by Chiari Malformation.

While this surgery is not a cure, it offers Keira the chance to live with far less pain and to regain control of her life.

The institute reports a 75–80% improvement in quality of life for patients who undergo this procedure.

Keira’s Dreams and Determination

Despite everything she has been through, Keira remains a fighter. She has always met her challenges with quiet strength and determination. What she wants most is the chance to live like any other young woman preparing for college—studying, making new friends, and planning her future.

Her goal is to begin college at Immaculata University in Fall 2026, majoring in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. She wants to make a difference in the lives of children—just as so many doctors and teachers have made a difference in hers.

How You Can Help

Because this life-altering procedure is performed outside the U.S., insurance will not cover the cost. The travel, surgery, and related expenses are far more than the family can take on alone.

Keira deserves the chance to live a life with less pain—and to pursue the future she has worked so hard for.

If you are able, please consider donating to help Keira get the surgery she needs.

No gift is too small. Every dollar brings her one step closer to healing, hope, and the life she deserves.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Your kindness means more than you know.

Understanding Chiari Malformation