Leah's Brain Surgery

Hello, my name is Leah Cooley. I am 27 yrs old, & was born with Arnold-Chiari Malformation Type 1. Like many with this diagnosis, i was able to live a mostly normal childhood until i was 17 years old and had a very serious concussion and suffered blackouts and seizures for weeks following it. (2014) Thus began a ten year struggle of on and off sickness, in and out of doctor’s offices, and also struggles with working and anxiety/depression. It was a struggle to find a doctor who took me seriously or someone who fully understood my diagnosis. I felt very misunderstood but was very young and also didn't fully understand the severity of my condition as it varies per person and is somewhat rare and under-researched. For years i went though "flare-up" periods where i would have to take a week or so off work, this led to issues with employment over time as things progressed from having flare ups once every 6 months to once a month, and eventually to becoming my regular daily life of living with symptoms such as: Severe Tinnitus, Chronic Migraines, Chronic Neck and back pain, Blurred vision, Insomnia/Fatigue, Vertigo, Paresthesia, Aphasia, Syncope, Spasticity, Facial numbness, Photophobia, Memory problems, Bladder/bowel incontinence, and Restricted neck mobility. However, I was lucky enough to become a Mommy in 2020 to a beautiful little girl who is 5 this year and going into kindergarten in the Fall. She is the only thing that keeps me going everyday and keeps me strong and to my faith.

Fast forward to 2025- earlier this year my prayers were answered when i walked into the office of Neurosurgeon Holly Gilmer at MHSI. I felt i was finally heard after speaking on deaf ears for so many years, and after further imaging, and explaining my quickly deteriorating condition, it was abundantly clear that a sudden decompression surgery is needed to attempt to treat my condition and alleviate my chronic pain. I am asking donations only for the expenses that have financially burdened me during this difficult time while i have been unable to work and have not been able to be approved for temporary disability during this time. I have been unable to work since last October of 2024. I am also not receiving any child support from my child's other parent and have no other income whatsoever since 10/2024, Leading me to increased stress and financial debt on top of the stress of having brain surgery and being a single Mommy of one. I am blessed to have supportive family members to help me with my daughter during my surgery in early April but the recovery process will be long and difficult, and physical therapy will be necessary to regain my strength, balance, mobility, and coordination again. As of now i am unable to drive a vehicle and ubers are not cheap since i live 25 minutes away from the nearest bus route and out of the general city area. I am so grateful for the family who helps me get my daughter to and from school right now but i never imagined being in this position as a mother, it is an incredibly helpless feeling, especially getting into financial debt and going into such a risky surgery. But i must keep my faith, and i hope and pray every single day that this upcoming surgery can allow me to get the relief i need from these daily struggles and allow me to get my life back.

Donations will be used for

-overdue bills (rent, phone, credit cards)

-Non-medical transportation costs

-groceries and other home consumables

Thank you for reading, God bless.

Absolutely anything would help and i appreciate your support ❤️❤️‍