Welcome to my Chiari fundraising page!

What Is Chiari Malformation?

: a serious neurological disorder where the bottom part of the brain, the cerebellum, descends out of the skull and crowds the spinal cord, putting pressure on both the brain and spine and causing many symptoms including intense headaches, fatigue, muscle weakness in the head and face, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, nausea, impaired coordination, and, in severe cases, paralysis.

While much can be accomplished through education and awareness, medical and scientific advances are what will be needed to truly improve the outcomes of patients. Today, Chiari and syringomyelia is still poorly understood - from causes to symptoms to treatments. There are significant gaps in the understanding of Chiari malformation. These knowledge gaps are not surprising given the relative lack of Chiari research compared to similar neurological conditions and the preponderance of case reports in the published Chiari literature. The lack of understanding, and research, regarding Chiari translates directly into negative patient experiences and outcomes and patients pay the price for this lack of knowledge. The Chiari community needs to become more active in funding research. Each research project costs a minimum of $50,000 per year. All proceeds donated will be used to fund Chiari research, education and awareness programs.

I received posterior fossa decompression in March, 2000 after sustaining a traumatic brain injury (causing my Chiari 1 Malformation to become symptomatic) while serving in the US Navy. Although the procedure prevented progression of the nerve damage I suffered, I still have intense headaches referred to as ‘migrainal’ in nature because there is too little known about what causes these post operative headaches.  And because the headaches don't respond to ‘migrainal” treatments, my neurologists say I will most likely simply have to endure them for the duration of my life as there is no additional treatment once you have undergone decompressive surgery. Please join me in the walk for a cure and/or donate to help find answers and make doctors visits hopeful to people with Chiari. All proceeds donated will be used to fund Chiari research, education and awareness programs.

Join my team, The Brainiacs, by clicking the SPONSOR ME link at the top of this page to sponsor my efforts in meeting my fundraising goal of $100.00 for my first year participating!

UPDATE: My Uncle donated $100.00 with the message: "There, you got your $100, now go for a Grand!" So it seems we have a new goal!!!

Thanks!       

Meghan

• Goal $100.00
• Raised $132.00