Hello! My name is FaithAnn Bagley.
For majority of my life, I have been struggling with chronic health issues that have been hard to address (the video above outlines this).
In 2020, I went in for a neck and back MRI and was diagnosed with something called Chiari Malformation Type 1. This is basically where the lower part of my brain extends out of the skull more than it should, which can compress the spine and surrounding structures. Most of the symptoms I have struggled with through the years line up with this condition, but past doctors said mine wasn’t bad enough to cause problems. With some of my health issues escalating recently, I decided to apply for an appointment with the Johns Hopkins Chiari Malformation Center to see if they could help me. I got accepted and have had multiple appointments with a neurosurgeon there over telemedicine.
After discussing with this neurosurgeon and running more tests, it was deemed that Chiari is causing some of my symptoms and that the best course of action would be to go forward with decompression surgery. This surgery is aimed at relieving the crowding around the brain and spine and allowing my spinal fluid to flow properly.
My surgery will be August 20th, 2025. I have gone through multiple years of conservative treatment to try to help my issues, and it’s time to take this leap.
With this leap however, there are a lot of costs.
I am currently insured by a Georgia Marketplace plan subsidized for low-income which sadly is a Georgia HMO and not accepted at John Hopkins which is in Maryland.
Therefore, my portion out-of-pocket for the whole surgery, pre and post appointments. therapy, meds, etc. is upwards of 48k
Plus, travel and lodging, and loss of work.
With saying this, I am asking for your support moving forward.
If it moves your heart to support financially, that would mean the world! If you are unable to, I ask that you be in prayer over my medical team, finances, family, and for my body to have enough strength to get through the next steps in my healing journey.
Thank you so much!
