Laura needs brain surgery. We need your help!

My sister, Laura Walker, is having brain & skull surgery and I’m rallying for your help! Because nobody should spend their life caring for others, only to suffer crushing head pain and debilitating debt in order to recover.


What is Chiari Malformation (CM)? 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). Her brain is literally pushing out of her skull.




Imagine every day is filled with unbearable, unrelenting headaches. The kind that feel like your skull is going to explode. You do all you can to keep up with your day- working the job you love, caring for your kids, being a good spouse and it gets harder and harder. Soon you’re no longer spending time with your friends  and bedtime comes as soon as you can get through the kids’ homework.

In desperation you try everything locally available: hundreds of injections in the neck and skull, chiropractor, physical therapy, home traction, a home tens unit and endure test after test with weeks going by in between. Appointments with specialists keep getting cancelled. There’s no relief.

Everything you try seems to make things worse. Your pain grows. The pressure expands to point of cutting off spinal fluid and there are days you are literally paralyzed and can’t walk. You wonder- is this a brain tumor, am I dying, will this ever go away?


Finally- a diagnosis is made of Chiari Malformation.

This has been my sister’s life over past several months. Thinking back, the early symptoms started years ago- but nobody caught on to what this could be. Finally, Laura was able to get an appointment with a renowned CM doctor at Mass General in Boston. This doctor has successfully completed hundreds of chiari malformation surgeries and has a high rate of great results. My sister feels like she has a competent professional, with a great team, who genuinely cares about the recovery and experience of each patient.


The path forward is not an easy one. Laura will have Chiari Decompression surgery on 12/12, which removes bone at the back of the skull to widen the foramen magnum (base of the skull) and creates space for the brain. The dura overlying the herniated tonsils is opened and a patch of skull bone taken from another spot is sewn to expand the space, similar to letting out the waistband on a pair of pants. The goals of surgery are to control the progression of symptoms, relieve compression, and restore the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Following surgery, she’ll be in The Intensive Care Unite (ICU) for 3 days and the regular hospital for up to a week. Once released, she will be on strict bedrest for three weeks, followed by three more weeks of reduced activity. Once she makes a full recovery, she is expected to return to normal activities.



Laura is surrounded by her family. She and her husband Jeff have been together for more than 25 years, having met as teenagers. They have three boys: ages 17 (a senior in high school) and 12 year old twins. All of their kids work hard to have good grades, play sports and the oldest has a steady job, even at his young age. They live in on a little farm with 2 dogs, 3 cats, 4 horses and many chickens. As a family, they enjoy all things country life brings: good friends around a big bonfire and outdoor activities.




For those of you that don’t know her, Laura is always the one on the caretaking and giving side of life. She’s a nurse who loves her patients like family. She has been known to take her family to visit elderly patients for dinner, just so they weren’t lonely.  She recently put herself through nursing school while raising three kids and working full time to achieve her RN (Registered Nurse) degree. She was elected class rep of her nursing program and now serves on the Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing Board of Directors as an alumni representative.  She has volunteered hours of service through United Way, when I ran the local organization in Utica. She and the Walker Family are 20 year active participants in the American Heart Walk in honor of Micky Walker. She has served at soup kitchens, painted over graffiti in the city, painted murals on children’s playgrounds, driven friends to medical appointments and cared for them after procedures, contributed to dozens of fund-raisers.




Never, in a million years, could she see herself on this side of the story. In fact, she did not want me to start this gofund me page. Why? Because she doesn’t want people worrying about her!! She’s supposed to be the one helping others, not the other way around. I was able to gain her consent  for this effort by telling her that so many people love her and when they hear her news, they’re going to want to do something to help- let’s let them.


Laura realizes that she and Jeff are fortunate to have decent jobs, whereas others are not so blessed. At the same time, there will be numerous expenses from this care above and beyond what it has already cost for the many treatments she has been through this year. The funds raised will help offset the direct medical expenses, travel (travel, hotel meals) back and forth to Boston, Jeff’s week long stay in Boston to be by Laura’s side, loss of wages for Laura during her recovery and Jeff as he stays with her and cares for her.


Now that you have the story, are you ready to help?  Here are a few ideas:

* Contribute to this fundraiser to help with expenses and beyond.

* Share the link with your friends and tell them why you’re giving.

* I will do my best to give updates as I have them. I’ll respond to questions as I’m able/as it’s appropriate. Please be respectful of Laura, Jeff and the boys during this time and avoid overwhelming them with questions so they can focus on the tasks at hand.

* Most Importantly: KEEP IT POSITIVE!  We are firm believers that what type of energy you put out there is what manifests. If you put forward worry, concern, fear it will result in things to worry about or fear. Negativity will be blocked by me. Please, put out love, light, encouragement and blessings for her surgeon, care team, family, travels and recovery. Call upon your higher power to surround and protect her while she goes through the pain and healing process. Fill her messages with encouragement- You got this! You can do this! It’s upward from here! Hang in there! We love you!

The Go Fund Me platform doesn't take any donations from individual campaigns like this, instead they charge a 2.9 percent payment processing fee and $0.30 per donation to cover credit card processing like anywhere credit cards are used.

THANK YOU for reading this far. For giving to this fund. For helping us get Laura back in the saddle!!