My close personal friend Jessica Ruettimann is one of the most caring and devoted mothers I know. When you first meet Jess you will usually hear about her husband Nick and their three amazing sons, Joshua, Jaxon, and Jameson within the first couple minutes (they're probably her favorite topic). However, once you get to know Jess more you will begin to hear about a lot of doctors appointments that she has scheduled every couple of weeks which result in many missed days of work. These appointments are not for Jess but for her son Joshua.

Joshua was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation in 2016 just months after he started kindergarten when many symptoms started to show. What is Chiari Malformation you ask? Well, to give you a brief insight it is structural defect in the base of the skull and cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. Normally the cerebellum and parts of the brain stem sit above an opening in the skull that allows the spinal cord to pass through it (called the foramen magnum) in technical terms. To make it simple, his brain is pushing out the bottom back part of his skull.

Fast forward in July of 2017 he had bone only decompression surgery. He was only 6 years old. They removed a piece of his skull to make more room for his brain. Immediately after waking up from surgery he said “my mouth feels better”, which was amazing because they never knew his mouth hurt. They were optimistic and besides some balance problems that are normal after brain surgery, he went a few months without any symptoms. 

Slowly but surely symptoms started to come back and they tried to remain optimistic. His Neurosurgeon ordered a follow up MRI of his brain and spine. The results from the MRI showed that his brain looked great, so great that the Surgeon planned on using Joshua’s decompression images in seminars. The only problem is that he is still having symptoms.

They have been to the Fraser Center (to check for behavioral/learning disorders), a Neurologist, a Plastic Surgeon, an Orthodontist, ENT’s, the Geneticist, Gastroenterology, Speech Therapy, Pediatric Neurosurgeon, etc. and it all ends the same way – getting referred to a different specialist. He has had MRI’s, Swallow Studies, Ultrasounds, Esophagrams, etc.. 

Joshua struggles every single day. Some of his symptoms include:

· Vomiting (almost daily – sometimes multiple times a day)
· Short-Term Memory Problems
· Constant Dry Cough
· Restricted Mobility of his Tongue
· Inability to open his mouth wide, puff his cheeks, spit, etc. 
· Delayed Fine Motor Skills

Just recently they came across an opportunity to see a Chiari Specialist. Not only is this Dr. a Chiari Specialist, but he is knowledgeable about all disorders associated with Chiari. He could give them ALL of the answers that they have desperately been looking for and to finally have a possible sense of normalcy in their lives. Dr. Greenfield is in New York, New York. Only problem – they are in Elk River, Minnesota. 

This family is desperate to get answers but with the medical bills from Joshua's illness money is tight. Getting to New York is not cheap but they are willing to take the chance to hopefully find some answers for Joshua. 

Help me help them to have a chance to give Joshua a shot at getting some real answers. All proceeds raised will be used to get Joshua and Jess to New York. All remaining proceeds will be used to help alleviate Joshua's medical bills.