Help Andrea with her life altering diagnosis

My friend, Andrea Smeltzer, was diagnosed with 2 life altering rare medical disorders in late 2022. Chiari Malformation Type 1 and Syringomyelia. Not many have heard of these 2 health conditions, but they are quite life changing.

Chiari affects the brain with the physical disruption of CSF flow around the brain, because of a physical deformity at the base of the skull, which causes a whole list of painful symptoms. Syringomyelia, also deals with CSF fluid, but involves the development of a syrinx or cyst within the spinal cord. Unfortunately, neither of these disorders have cures at this time, only treatments which involve one or more surgeries to help with the painful symptoms.

Andrea has been a doberman breeder for many years and the financial disruption and emotional devastation that these medical conditions have caused can be extremely burdensome and impactful to say the least.

She had brain surgery for the Chiari Malformation on June 29, 2023 in Pittsburgh at UPMC Presbyterian. Recovery time for what's known as a "posterior fossa decompression" can be upwards of 1 year or longer. Recovery can be compared to that of someone with a traumatic brain injury, where recovery of the injured areas of the brain, take a very long time to heal.

The diagnosis has lead to a number of financial hardships at home, getting back and forth to long distance doctor’s appointments and also being able to take care of and feed her breeding dogs. Many non-profit or disease/disorder based organizations are out of funds and despite applying for assistance, Andrea has not had any luck with obtaining help that would offset some of the costs she faces with every day bills and those that directly impact the care of her dogs.

Understandably, times are very tight and if you know Andrea and are able to help her get through this tumultuous time, your donation of even a few dollars would greatly help. Please consider giving, even if it is only $5.00

Thank you very much for any help you may be able to assist with.