Help the Koepp's through Katie's Chiari Battle!

As most of you may know, my sweet friend Katie Koepp has been dealing with Chiari for several years. Medical professionals have mishandled her diagnosis, and she has overcome many hurdles to find the proper care with a Chiari specialist. She has faced many worsening neurological symptoms, along with debilitating head pain, for most of this year, resulting in a poor quality of life. The Koepp family has endured a lot of misfortune this year with a miscarriage, pet illnesses, and Katie’s struggle with Chiari Malformation. Katie and Tyler have spent the majority of their spring and summer traveling to appointments in Rochester, undergoing intense imaging, tests, and procedures, all of which have resulted in the need for brain surgery.

As much as Katie denies it, Chiari Decompression is a major surgery. Decompression surgeries are not a “cure” nor guaranteed to solve specific symptoms. Although surgery is not needed for all patients, Katie’s symptoms, scans, and the physical abnormality of her skull have proven that surgery is her only chance of relieving any symptoms. Because the physical malformation of the skull causes her Chiari, the only way to “fix” her symptoms is to physically change the abnormality and allow more room for her brain, which is currently very, very crammed into her skull. The goal of the surgery is to take pressure off her brain and spine. This is done with a craniotomy, laminectomy, cauterizing of the cerebellar tonsils, a duraplasty, and an implant of a titanium mesh plate. In non-medical terms, part of her skull will be removed along with her c1 vertebrae. Katie's cerebellar tonsils (a portion of her brain currently herniated) will be cauterized to allow more room. Once everything is removed, her surgeon will place a titanium mesh plate in place to help protect her brain and provide a barrier so there won’t be future herniations. Katie will also have a duraplasty done to expand her dura (the outer covering of the brain) which will allow her to be sealed and stapled up!

To ensure successful neurosurgery, Katie is seeing a Chiari specialist in Milwaukee. It’s tough to find a Chiari specialist who performs decompression surgeries on adults; this brain surgery is typically done in pediatrics. In addition to her 11-night stay in Milwaukee, she also has post-op appointments scheduled for January, for which she will need to travel back to Milwaukee. Katie and Tyler have spent the last few weeks processing and making a plan for their boys, their dogs, and themselves as they approach surgery day.

We ask your support in helping offset medical expenses, compromised income, travel, lodging, care for their dogs, and post-operation travel. The Koepp family has traveled a long, bumpy road and will continue to face challenging days as surgery and Katie’s recovery become closer.

We appreciate your consideration in helping out!! Every little bit helps, even prayers for Katie's comfort and healing and for Tyler, Wesley & Watson, who are endlessly worried about Katie's outcome! Thank you!!!

If you aren't comfortable donating on here, you are also welcome to Venmo the Family at (katiekoepp).

Thank you so much!!