An Appeal from our friend and your colleague, Dr. Richard Parker
Dear Colleague, Too often, we as physicians are personally touched by the death of a loved one. Consequently, this tragic loss becomes a positive force in educating and enlightening people and physicians about an often rarely diagnosed and misunderstood illness. Recently, my dearest friends, David and Prudence Hudson, lost a daughter to the complications of Chiari malformation. They have begun to honor their daughter, Shannon Hudson Terry, by starting a campaign of love and caring to conquer Chiari. The start has been a web site, www.shannons-hope.org, dedicated to Shannon and Chiari. I am asking you to become involved in any capacity you wish. This would include advice as to how we should proceed, information to your patients, or a wider role with investment of your time and expertise. There is a saying, “You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” We cannot do anything for you, but you can do a great deal for these people who suffer from the effects of Chiari malformation. Thank you, E. Richard Parker, M.D. Austin Plastic Surgery InstituteCLICK HERE To Learn More About Chiari Malformation
Dear Physician,Like many people, we had never heard of Chiari malformation – until its complications claimed the life of our daughter, Shannon, in the summer of 2011. In this serious neurological disorder, the cerebellum descends out of the skull and crowds the spinal cord, causing severe headaches and other debilitating symptoms. As a physician, you can play a critical part in fighting this terrible disease. Chiari malformation is notoriously difficult to diagnose, but awareness of the symptoms and other facts about it across the physician community will hopefully help more people get a proper diagnosis on a timely basis. There is a wide range of common Chiari malformation symptoms, but specific symptoms and their severity vary, and an MRI is necessary to verify a diagnosis. Consequently, people often go for years without a proper diagnosis, delaying the opportunity to seek treatment. We experienced firsthand the frustration of the lack of information and awareness during the long period that the family struggled to find the correct diagnosis for Shannon. Our goal is to raise awareness of Chiari malformation among physicians like you. To that end, Dr. K. Michael Webb, a neurosurgeon with Neuro Texas PLLC, Austin, Texas, has agreed to generously share his extensive knowledge about the disease. On the following pages, you’ll find:
- Valuable facts from Dr. Webb about Chiari malformation
- Additional detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
- A personal appeal from another of your physician colleagues, Dr. Richard Parker
Sincerely,
David and Prudence Hudson
DHudson@Shannons-Hope.org
