Chiari Malformation

We purchased items to pass out to the people who will be attending the Southern Ohio Chiari Walk in September.  I loved the products so much I emailed the company thanking them for the items.  They decided to put our story on their business page.  It can be viewed at: http://www.palmettofundraising.com/palmettofundraising/index.php/Customer-Success-Stories/Fundraising-for-Chiari-Malformation-One-Mothers-Success-Story.html

If you are holding a Chiari event or would like to purchase items to pass out to friends and family you can view Palmetto's items at: http://www.palmettofundraising.com/palmettofundraising/index.php/Purple/View-all-products.html  they are listed as Cancer items but the purple ribbons work for Chiari.  They are offering people who are organizing Chiari events 5% off.  If you are interested in this please send me an email at merideth3b@hotmail.com and I will send you the code. 

It's hard having a child with Chiari. There a lot of questions about his future.  More than a "normal" family would have.  There is such an education process with Chiari.  Educating everyone around.  Matthew's school was very accepting with my list of needs for him.  His teacher even had me in to approve his classroom before school started.  I wanted to make sure everyone knew about Chiari and all the associations with it.  My life became Chiari.  As a parent with a "Chiari Child" you second guess yourself a lot.  If he has a headache....is it Chiari or could it just be a headache.  If he falls...is it Chiari or did he just fall.  My biggest worry is how Matthew is going to be as he grows.  Is he going to be able to lead a normal life.  Will he feel normal. How many more surgeries will he have to have.  I guess with other conditions they know more, they know what to expect.  With Chiari you dont know.  I hate to say this but you almost wish he had a "common" condition.  Something more people knew about.  I am sure he gets so tired of hearing "Don't do that, Watch your head".  I know his brothers are tired of hearing "Watch out, You can't do that with him..etc.".  Boys love to roughhouse.  You want everyone to know about Chiari.  You spend most of your time educating people about Chiari.  Just hoping that you can help one family that knows nothing about it.  We recently was issued a Proclamation for the Ohio Governor. Issuing September as Chiari Awareness month.  I have spent all of my time trying to get an event together to celebrate.  I have a great lady working with me name Carrie.  She also has Chiari. We are both working very hard to get this event off the ground.  Our biggest joy is meeting other people with Chiari.  We met Carrie at the 1st Annual Chiari Awareness Walk in Ohio.  Where we (our family) raised over $1200.00 for Conquer Chiari.  We also raised $100 for Conquer Chiari from a Car Wash thanks to the Greenville, OH 4H Canine Cappers.  This year has been busy with Chiari and Chiari events.  I am sure our family and friends get tired of mail from me.  :)  They know by now its a Chiari Event we are attending and asking for donations.   LOVE YOU GUYS!!!  We have run into a lot of business not donationg because they know nothing about Chiari.  If I were asking for donations for Cancer...wow their pocket books would open a lot faster.  And then is where the education process comes into play.  Remember:  September is Ohio Chiari Awareness Month!!!