Community ralies around Spirit Lake woman

SPIRIT LAKE — The good news is that Jessica Brown finally has answers to the medical problems she has been suffering for the past few years.

The daughter of Jimmy Brown, Jessica grew up in Spirit Lake. In 2016, her life took both a turn for the better and for the worse when doctors discovered the cause of her medical conditions — a congenital Chiari malformation, astructural defect in the base of the skull and cerebellum. In Jessica’s case, the tonsils of her cerebellum extended out from her foramen magnum, causing pressure on her spinal cord. Doctors told the Spirit Lake resident — who had just changed jobs and started school to become a dental hygienist — that she would need decompression surgery to help relieve the pressure on her brain and on her spinal cord.

“The good news was, we now had an answer to everything that had been going on medically with her and it was treatable,” her family wrote in a post on GoFundMe. “It also meant, that once treated, she could have a real shot at pursuing her dreams to join the Peace Corps but this also meant that as a family, we would need to figure out how to get her the medical treatment she desperately needed.”

Unforunately, Jessica’s condition took a turn for the worse in mid-February when she woke up with severe dizziness and vertigo, speech problems, increased weakness, fainting, and vomiting. She was admitted to the ER and two MRIs later, the family said in the post that doctors discovered her cerebellar tonsils had distended further down. Jessica’s condition was now a very serious situation, requiring surgery as soon as possible. She had to drop out of school and could no longer work.

Jessica was scheduled for decompression surgery on April 26 but during a pre-op visit with her surgeon it was determined she wasn’t in good enough health for the surgery. Doctors also told Brown that the Chiari malformation may not explain all of her symptom and that multiple sclerosis could be a factor.

Brown now has futher appointments with neurology specialists in Seattle to determine a definitive diagnois and what her treatment options will be.

In addition to the GoFundMe account, various fundraisers have been planned by the community, including a silent auction and raffle on May 19 at the Linger Longer Lounge, 6262 W. Main St., in Spirit Lake. The spaghetti feed will begin at 4 p.m. at a cost of $10 per plate per person. Dinner also includes salad and garlic bread as well as live music. Those attending will receive a free raffle ticket for a silent auction and raffle on June 2.

The June 2 silent auction and raffle on at the Linger Longer Lounge are on sale now, and the silent auction will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 2.

There will be a door prize raffle, with those attending receiving a free raffle ticket upon entering for a chance to win. (The winner must be present to win this item.)

For all other items, raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Prizes range in value from $35-$100 or more in value. Prizes also range from children’s toys, to gift certificates for beer/wine, or even a $100 certificate for a tattoo courtesy of Jojo’s Tattoo. Winners of raffle items do not need to be present to win but winners of silent auction items need to be present at the June 2 event.

Must not be present to win raffle items, must be present to win silent auction items.

Silent auction items range in value from $100 to over $1,000, and include gift certificates for local businesses, such as restaurants, tattoo shops, clothing stores, and even excavation, grading, or snow removal.

Proceeds from the fundraiser and the GoFundMe account will be used to cover medical costs and to help Jessica during her recovery.

Information: http://bit.ly/2J6WoLO