Judy's Medical Fund

My wife has been out of work for quite some time since being diagnosed with Chiari 1 Malformation. She also has cervical spinal stenosis and brachial neuropathy. Many days are spent in pain and extreme exhaustion. 

Some may be wondering what all this stuff is. In layman's terms Chiari Malformation is a herniation of the cerebellum (hindbrain that controls balance and coordination) into the small opening of the skull (aka foramen magnum), putting pressure on the spinal column. Sometimes this can be fatal if the herniation is severe enough and untreated. Most commonly, it causes severe headaches (worse than a migraine) that can last for weeks, balance issues, vertigo, speech issues, memory issues, eyesight problems, and the list goes on. The only treatment for Chiari is brain surgery to try to relieve the pressure, surgery is not a cure--it is a means to halt progression of symptoms.

Cervical Spinal Stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal column. This can be caused by herniated discs putting pressure on the spinal cord, which causes many of the same things Chiari causes: Dizziness, balance problems (including falls), numbness in the extremities, severe headaches, etc. If extreme enough, surgery may be the only option to try to halt the progression of the condition. This is why she needs Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion. She will have the "offending" discs removed, cadaver bone put in place and titanium plates screwed in to ensure stability. This is her only option. Her neurosurgeon says that if she continues the way she is going and falls one too many times that the next fall may be the one to put her in a wheelchair for the rest of her life and the need for constant care (paralysis). 

Brachial Neuropathy is basically a comorbid condition of Chiari and Stenosis (it is nerve damage). There is no cure once the damage is done. This causes numbness and pain in the extremities, loss of strength and other problems. She requires an EMG test to see the extent of the damage.

She also has vestibular weakness in her left ear, this means she sometimes has loss of control over her arms, this can also cause dizziness (she got the triple whammy with vertigo issues), and gait issues. The cause of this is unknown, but suspected to be a result of damage from the Chiari.

She requires a lot of tests and scans because of everything she suffers. I have been the sole provider of our little family since her diagnosis. About two weeks ago, I had to have emergency surgery on an infection that nearly turned into staph. I am also diabetic, so this threw me for a loop and I am slowly getting on the mend. Because of this, neither of us have been able to refill our prescriptions and have had to cancel and try to reschedule necessary doctor appointments. 

This campaign is to try to help alleviate some of the burden.

Any help will most certainly be appreciated.

Thank you, 
The Mohorns