Hi, I am Chelsey, and I am fundraising to help my sister, MaKayla, with the costs towards her treatment of Chiari Malformation Type 1. Chiari Malformation is the herniation of the cerebellum of the brain through the foramen down the spinal canal, which puts pressure on the spinal cord, restricting cerebral spinal fluid flow. MaKayla received her diagnosis in August this year after losing feeling in her right arm and hand over several months and then suddenly losing feeling in her left side. With no Chiari specialist in Montana and having not received a call from neurology in Billings for several weeks on what to do next, she self-referred to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she was accepted as a patient quickly. She has already spent some time at the Mayo Clinic from September 18-23 for further evaluation and testing to determine if the Chiari was the only thing causing these issues. While there, she learned she also had several other spinal issues from herniated discs, bone spurs, desiccation, a retroflexed odontoid, suspicious absence of the C1, and a syrinx. Many of these issues are common with a Chiari Malformation, which is a rare diagnosis on its own. At this time, there is no cure for Chiari Malformation, and it is a lifelong issue. In some patients, it can be asymptomatic, but for others like my sister, the symptoms can come quickly out of nowhere and be life-changing. If left untreated, it can result in permanent nerve damage and even paralysis. Due to the symptoms present, her team at the Mayo Clinic recommends the decompression surgery. This involves removing a portion of her skull, extension of the dura, and removal of the back of the C1-C2 vertebrae. Due to the suspicions of the C1 and instability of her spine overall, they are also recommending a cranio-cervical fusion for the best long-term outcomes.

MaKayla is a stay-at-home mom of three young children, a full-time student, a loving wife, fiercely loyal friend, and is extremely dedicated to her family. She is always who we have called on for help, even from over a thousand miles away, and she finds a way to show up or make something happen while never asking for something in return. Due to the nature of the procedure, she needs to return to Rochester 2 days before her procedure, which is scheduled for October 31, and will have a hospital stay for a minimum of 3 days. Plus, she is expected to stay in the Rochester area for 1-2 days after surgery before she is allowed to return home. After returning home, she will have specialist follow-up care in Billings coordinated by the team from Mayo Clinic. I am asking to help ease the financial burden on my sister and brother-in-law in these times for the costs not covered by insurance: coinsurance, travel, hotel, food, medications, etc.

If you are unable to donate, please share and add her to your thoughts, prayers, or whatever it is you believe in.

Thank you!