In December of 2021, my mother was diagnosed with syringomyelia, a rare neurological disorder where a fluid-filled cyst, called a syrinx, forms inside the spinal cord. Over time, the expanding cyst can press on nerves and lead to chronic pain, numbness, and muscle weakness. It can also lead to significant loss in balance, headaches/migraines, and loss of pain. Most recently she was diagnosed with Chiari malformation, another disorder that almost always comes hand-in-hand with syringomyelia. This disorder is more concerning when it comes to the loss of balance because it causes the cerebellum (the part of the brain that controls balance) to slide down into the spinal canal. Even though the disorders are rare and affect roughly 1 in 1,000 people (Chiari malformation), 8-9 out of every 100,000 people (syringomyelia) respectively, the damage they cause reaches far beyond the body that they attack. The goal of The Angela Stith Syringomyelia & Chiari Foundation is to raise awareness & support while funding research and providing hope. And to let those who are living with these disorders and their families know that they are Warriors and the Fight Is Not OVER!!