Woman with crippling headaches needs surgery

Headaches have been Chala Suzie McNee's health complaint for years, and they have got so agonising that she has, at times, lose her vision.

"I always have a headache but there are days when the migraine is so bad that I cannot move. There are days I suffer from dizziness. Just two weeks ago, I fainted in the shower. I also have to contend with memory loss, the inability to concentrate, and sometimes I can't recall the names of things I often use or even close friends. There are times my vision gets very blurry, or I temporarily lose my vision, usually in the left eye. Each time I visit my ophthalmologist, I'm told my eye has got worse," she shared.

The 30-year-old has been confirmed to have papilloedema, which is swelling of the optic nerve, and further examinations by physicians and specialists indicated that she exhibited signs of raised intracranial pressure - elevation of the pressures within the cranium. But the results of a magnetic resonance imaging and further magnetic resonance venography in February 2024 revealed that she has idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and venous stenosis. IIH is increased pressure in your skull and occurs because of cerebrospinal fluid build-up around the brain, while venous sinus stenosis is a type of cerebral disease that sees the large veins of the brain being narrowed.

"For about four years my health has been steadily declining. Hearing this diagnosis, I experienced part relief and part depression. Relief because there was a named condition for what I was experiencing, that was backed up by brain scans. But [I felt] depression because it's another health issue I have to contend with," she said. The University of the West Indies, Mona, graduate also suffers from severe chronic bronchitis, which was diagnosed in July 2023, following a serious chest infection. The common cold can see her having a bronchitis flare-up or even hospitalisation, as she did in March, according to her medical reports seen by the news team.

But her medical reports suggest further that treatment for IIH and venous sinus stenosis may have to be sought outside the country, as the required treatment is stenting of the narrow vein. She was referred to experts in Miami, Florida. The surgery was initially scheduled for August 2024 at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, but had to be postponed as the bachelors of law graduate was not able to acquire the US$27,000 (approximately J$4.2 million) required to cover the procedure, hospital stay, pre- and post- surgery expenses and recovery expenses.

"I am currently on a drug to help drain the excess cerebral fluid and blood in my brain. Additionally, I'm required to also lose weight because the added weight increases the pressure being built up in my head. It has affected my ability to work. I am a paralegal and I've surpassed the legally allotted 10 sick days. So my bills and responsibilities remain the same, but often times, over these past few months, I'm taking home less salary. I've had to be on bed rest a lot as I'm told I need to be in the best health possible in order to do my surgery, and considering it's easy for me to get sick, I now have to be extra careful where I go and who I'm around," she told THE STAR.

Since receiving her diagnosis, she initiated a GoFundMe campaign. To date, she has raised US$5,201 of the US$31, 500 goal; her surgery is set for October 11.

"It's very difficult trying to remain positive, considering all that is going wrong around me. But I've been through a lot in life and I look at it as just another obstacle that I need to push through. God has brought me through things I never thought I'd survive. This is just another test of my faith and one I hope I don't fail," she said.

Persons wishing to assist Chala Suzie McNee may donate to her GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-chala-suzie-mcnee-get-urgent-neurosurgery