PenniesforPamela.com

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Pamela's Story:
 
Pamela is an average teenager. She loves to spend time with her friends while hanging out at the local pool, play on the school soccer team and shoot on the rifle team, babysit her nieces and do what teenagers do best: play online.
 
Pamela's 2006 Team Soccer Picture
 
 
Pamela was diagnosed with CM through a soccer accident. During one of her games, her nose was broken while being her teams goalie. After seeing the neurologist following standard testing, they were informed she had this condition.
 
Hitting the internet for information, they came across The Chiari Institute. This institute which is based in Long Island specializes in the diagnosing and treatment of all forms of Chiari Malformation.
 
After setting up appointments, intense testing, and long weekends she was diagnosed fully with CM. The diagnoses alone cost $15,430.
 
Pamela is no longer able to do what she loves. Soccer is out of the question, bouncing on our parents trampoline with friends, rollar skating, horseback riding, rollar coasters, bicycle riding are just some of the restrictions she has. Pretty much anything that would result in her head or neck snapping around she is no longer allowed to do. During long car trips, she is required to wear a medical neck brace to help support her head and for the protection in case of an accident.
 
 
Pamela and friends before she was diagnosed
 
Another problem with CM is the headaches Pamela deals with. With the headaches being so severe, she has missed out on a normal high school life. Luckily, the school has been great with working with the family in order to keep her from being held back. During the days she misses, the school will fax to the house any work she has missed and her absences are not held against her.
 Pamela and her 2 nieces and new nephew
 
On August 23, 2007 Pamela had the surgery to release her spinal cord from her spine. It was a long surgery but she came through with flying colors. In December, she went and had a MRI done of her head and neck. Thankfully, the spinal cord release allowed her CM to correct.
Pamela A Day After Her Surgery 2007
 
In 2008, Pamela began to have problems with her head, sometimes worse than before. An emerengcy trip back to Long Island showed that her CM was back and needed to be corrected. Our parents let her make a choice:
1. Go through a surgical procedure called Posterior Fossa Decompresson.
2. Be on medication for as long as her body allows her to live with the pain to delay surgery.
 
After careful thought, Pamela wanted a normal Senior year of High School.
July 1st, 2008 Pamela went in for the surgery and all went well. After a few set backs, she was able to come home 3 weeks later.
WE HAVE  ADDED A NEW 'PICTURE' PAGE TO SHOW WHAT WAS INVOVED IN THIS RISKY SURGERY. THEY ARE GRAPHIC PICTURES SO PLEASE VIEW WITH CAUTION!