
Karina Can Beat Chiari!
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Karina Hernandez is a twenty-seven year old single mother of three young children, Michael (8), Ashton (6), and Ariel (2). She is not only a co-worker, but a friend, and she urgently needs our help. In just a few weeks, Karina will undergo brain surgery and she will need help with medical expenses and post surgical expenses.
Karina has suffered from frequent headaches and nausea all the way back in high school. Her balance has been an issue as well as slow reflexes. In August 2017, Karina started having seizures, but doctors could not identify a cause for them. She was told they were "stress seizures." In March 2018, Karina had a grand mal seizure while sleeping and it was after this that she went to see a neurologist. She was put on seizure medication at this time. The headaches have become more frequent and more intense. Karina does her best to keep up with her three young children and continues to work while in constant pain.
An EEG was performed and was normal; it showed no seizure activity. It was then that an MRI of the brain was done and Karina was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation Type I. This is a structural abnormality of the cerebellum , the lower part of the brain, and the skull. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls the musculoskeletal system, balance, visual and auditory functions, and contributes to memory and motor responses. The malformation occurs when the lower part of the cerebellum extends below the foramen magnum (the large hole at the base of the skull which allows passage of the spinal cord). In laymen's terms, the bottom of Karina's brain is sagging down below the base of the skull and causing compression on the spinal cord; this is also preventing flow of the spinal fluid. This would explain the seizures, frequent, excruciating headaches, balance issues, and numbness in the face as well as the upper and lower extremities.
In just about three weeks, Karina will undergo brain surgery to correct her condition and improve her symptoms. Doctors will break away pieces of her lower skull to allow space for her cerebellum; this will hopefully relieve the pressure on her spinal cord and decrease the headaches, stop the seizures and the numbness. They will also ablate some areas of the cerebellum to make for more room. A skin graft (taken from Karina's leg) will be placed on her skull where the incision will be made.
Karina's family, her work family, and her friends, are asking for help during this critical time. The cost of the surgery, between the physician fees and hospital fees, far exceeds what Karina is able to pay. She will be out of work for several months after surgery and desperately needs help. Please share her story with others. Any donations are very much appreciated, as well as prayers and kind words.
Karina has suffered from frequent headaches and nausea all the way back in high school. Her balance has been an issue as well as slow reflexes. In August 2017, Karina started having seizures, but doctors could not identify a cause for them. She was told they were "stress seizures." In March 2018, Karina had a grand mal seizure while sleeping and it was after this that she went to see a neurologist. She was put on seizure medication at this time. The headaches have become more frequent and more intense. Karina does her best to keep up with her three young children and continues to work while in constant pain.
An EEG was performed and was normal; it showed no seizure activity. It was then that an MRI of the brain was done and Karina was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation Type I. This is a structural abnormality of the cerebellum , the lower part of the brain, and the skull. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls the musculoskeletal system, balance, visual and auditory functions, and contributes to memory and motor responses. The malformation occurs when the lower part of the cerebellum extends below the foramen magnum (the large hole at the base of the skull which allows passage of the spinal cord). In laymen's terms, the bottom of Karina's brain is sagging down below the base of the skull and causing compression on the spinal cord; this is also preventing flow of the spinal fluid. This would explain the seizures, frequent, excruciating headaches, balance issues, and numbness in the face as well as the upper and lower extremities.
In just about three weeks, Karina will undergo brain surgery to correct her condition and improve her symptoms. Doctors will break away pieces of her lower skull to allow space for her cerebellum; this will hopefully relieve the pressure on her spinal cord and decrease the headaches, stop the seizures and the numbness. They will also ablate some areas of the cerebellum to make for more room. A skin graft (taken from Karina's leg) will be placed on her skull where the incision will be made.
Karina's family, her work family, and her friends, are asking for help during this critical time. The cost of the surgery, between the physician fees and hospital fees, far exceeds what Karina is able to pay. She will be out of work for several months after surgery and desperately needs help. Please share her story with others. Any donations are very much appreciated, as well as prayers and kind words.
Organizer and beneficiary
Heather M Garrison
Organizer
Austin, TX
Lorenzo Hernandez
Beneficiary