Chiari malformation (CM) is a structural defect in the cerebellum, characterized by a downward displacement of one or both cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum (the opening at the base of the skull). CMs can cause headaches, difficulty swallowing, vomiting, dizziness, neck pain, unsteady gait, poor hand coordination, numbness and tingling of the hands and feet, and speech problems. Less often, people may experience ringing or buzzing in the ears, weakness, slow heart rhythm or fast heart rhythm, curvature of the spine (scoliosis) related to spinal cord impairment, abnormal breathing, such as central sleep apnea, characterized by periods of breathing cessation during sleep, and, in severe cases, paralysis.

This can sometimes lead to non-communicating hydrocephalus due to obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow. Phase differences in flow and blood influx in the brain's vasculature cause the cerebrospinal fluid outflow. The malformation is named after the Austrian pathologist Hans Chiari. A type II CM is also known as an Arnold–Chiari malformation in honor of Chiari and German pathologist Julius Arnold.

My Life with Chiari

Why the subject Chiari Malformation?  After moving back to the States and settling in, I started to experience severe headaches.  These headaches were not typical in any way, shape, or form.  More often than not, I would lose my train of thought and sleep, and not only were the headaches a problem but also my spine.  

On the first visit to the ER, my gallbladder was already leaking and about to rupture, and I had to have a Cholecystectomy to fix the problem.  Physicians explained that all my symptoms could be due to my gallbladder issues.  I was in the hospital for seven days to control the infection; then, I had the long-awaited surgery on the eighth day.  Unfortunately, that did not resolve anything.  

A month later, I had a new MRI, which detected degenerative disc disease on my L4 - L5.  On December 17, 2014, my second surgery was completed, L4-L5 Spinal Fusion.  Sadly, that only resolved some of the issues, not all.  It took me a year to recover fully from spine surgery and regain full mobility.  In the process, physicians studied my case.  I felt like a guinea pig; they completed many procedures and tests during this period.  Finally, at the end of 2015, they diagnosed me with Arnold Chiari Malformation Type 1.  Since then, I've had over 100 procedures done, been hospitalized hundreds of times, and had 29 surgeries, 20 of which have been brain surgeries.  Sadly, this illness does not have a cure, and I will live with it for the rest of my life.  I have overcome many obstacles, including death, and I'm thankful to wake up each day ready to enjoy my day.  Well, not always, but for the most part.

My last surgery has given me hope for a new beginning.  Even when I will never fully recover and this illness will never go away, im willing and able to keep fighting this fight, traveling the world and meeting new people with different and unique stories just like mine.