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Here is what happened to the young man from our parish. (I have changed his name to protect his privacy.) He needs our prayers often. His mother needs our prayers. She's a very sweet lady who's world is upside down in ways I can't even begin to imagine.

In February 2005 while at school Gary had a very severe headache, later on that day he collapsed in school and was taken to the hospital. Tests revealed that he was suffering from a condition called Arnold Chiari Malformation Type I with Hydrosyringomyelia. This means that the cerebral tonsils had herniated into the neck cavity compressing the spinal cord forming a cyst inside his spinal cord. For a while, Gary had suffered from loss of motor skills, tingling in the legs, incontinence, headaches and many other symptoms, but the cause had not been found.

In April 2005 Gary had his 1st surgery, decompression surgery, bones in the back of his head were removed to accommodate the Chiari malformation. For the months to follow Gary's condition worsened. He lost school, missed out on sports, took many trips to medical center, had MRI's done over and over and he only got worst.

In September, Gary lost function of both of his legs and was hospitalized for two weeks. His problems continue to get worse. Gary's life was now being defined by pain. Another surgery seemed the only way to find relief.

In November, once again his legs gave up and Gary had to be hospitalized for another two weeks. The spinal cord was so compressed Doctors feared he may have had permanent damage.

In December, Gary had his 2nd brain surgery, a Duraplasty. During this process the membrane surrounding the brain was opened and a graph (patch) put in place to enlarge the space surrounding the brain. He seemed to had been doing great.

Two weeks later Gary's head began to swell; the patch was leaking cerebrospinal fluid. This collection is called a Pseudomeningocele.

On Christmas Day, he was admitted once again until present. His presents, still unopened on his bed, await his arrival.

The excruciating pain didn't allow Gary to wake up and notice he had turned 13. Gary went to surgery for the 3rd time on December 28th to place an external drain inside his back to relief the high intracraneal pressure. It wasn't successful! On December 30th another trip to the OR, the 4th one, this time to empty the pseudomeningocele. It had gotten so large Gary was suffering from extreme headaches and medications were no match. He was literally in agony!

On January 4th, 2006 the drain was removed, it didn't work. On January 6th, Gary undergoes his 5th surgery, this time to re-patch the dura and for the second time empty the pseudomeningocele. Gary spent next 11 days in the intensive care unit in a medically induced coma, 4 days later the pseudomeningocele was back. Once again, we knew the surgery had failed. On January 12th, another procedure to empty the cyst on the back of his head, this time 70 ML of fluid were removed.

On Monday, January 16th, fluid started coming out of Gary's head; he was taken to the OR for the 6th time. There was something different about this trip, it had become life threatening. Gary's body is very weak and fragile from so many surgeries and procedures. His face so swollen it is almost unrecognizable.

We now look into the future with the hope to find a solution to Gary's health problems. That hope comes from the University of Chicago; and a specialist in pediatric high intracraneal pressure who has helped many other children with Gary's condition. The catch? Gary is too fragile and unstable to travel. He requires advanced and costly medical assistance to endure this trip. He knows the facts and a tear rolls down his cheek every time we mention the almost impossible but so necessary trip to Chicago.

They are now in Chicago. His condition has improved.