It’s been seven months since former Oxford resident Devin Kalisz was supposed to attend The Chiari Institute (TCI) in New York for a surgery that would relieve her painful symptoms, but sometimes life doesn’t always go the way we plan it.
Kalisz, mother of 8-year-old twins Paige and Micah, has suffered from Chiari Malformation for the last three years after a car crash brought on painful headaches, neck pain and paralysis on her right side.
The neurological disorder happens when the bottom part of the brain, called the cerebellum, descends out of the skull and crowds the spinal cord, putting pressure on both the brain and spine.
In April of 2006, Kalisz, who now resides in Ortonville, had a decompression surgery, where a piece of her skull was removed to relieve pressure, and the trip to TCI last August would’ve entailed spinal cord surgery.
Kalisz decided not to take the trip to New York because it would have required her to be away from her children for three weeks and the cost was just too much to bear.
After doing more research and seeing 17 different surgeons, she found Dr. Brad Alghren at Troy Beaumont, who performed the surgery for the first time March 14.
‘I’m going to have three vertebrae taken out of my neck and I’m actually getting bank bones that were other people’s put into their place,? she said, adding that three metal plates will also be put into her neck to help stabilize it and to relieve her symptoms.
Dr. Alghren had to perform the surgery through the front of Kalisz’s neck because he couldn’t enter from behind because of her prior surgery. The worst part, according to Kalisz, will be the six-month recovery process. The first three months she can’t do anything, even lifting a gallon of milk. Unfortunately, with the surgery come more symptoms. Kalisz’s speech pattern, swallowing and arm movement will be affected.
‘It’s going to be a learning process,? she said, adding that she’ll have to learn how to use her upper body all over again. ‘We’re hoping this is going to be the thing that’ll really make a difference for me.
With her husband, Chris, and children by her side, Kalisz is hopeful she will make a full recovery and go back to being ‘the fun mom? again, playing soccer and rollerblading.
When she’s fully recovered, Kalisz hopes to travel to schools, sharing her story on overcoming the disorder and giving hope to children who may also be suffering from it.
‘I’ve really dedicated myself in helping people with Chiari,? she said. ‘It kind of made me forget about my issues. I’m not the only one struggling.? She wants to thank everyone in her hometown of Oxford for their prayers and kind words during her hard times.
To send words of encouragement to Devin and her family, feel free to send them to 310 South Street, Ortonville, MI 48462.