Carletta Smith

Chiari has effected 3 of my family members, my yougest daughter, my eldest grand daughter and now my grandson, Mason. It is alarming that so many people in our immediate family are effected by this condition and it is scary when you learn just how debilitating it can be. Although 1 in 1,000 are afflicted with this condition, little is known about it and even less is publicized. Our grandson, Mason, is the sweetest little boy whose smile just turns me to jelly. From the moment he was born, almost 3 years ago, he has been faced with challanges and obstacles that he has conquered with great determination and perseverance. He is a great example for never giving up and he amazes me everyday. He is my hero. He is also fortunate to have 2 wonderful parents who help him with his limitations but encourage him to be his very best. He shares his Mothers "can do" attitude as she is a survivor of childhood cancer. I hope that more research will help to find a cure and also bring public awareness to this silent affliction that we know so little about.

We Love You Mason,
Nannie and Grandad

Taralee O'Malley-Hurff

Wonderful site Melanie! Informative and purposeful...love your logo :) Let me know what I can do for the fundraiser...I can spread the word through Early Intervention since I sit on the Board...keep me posted! I can't wait to meet Mason!!!!!!

Lorie Gaffney

Mason is our wonderful grandson. We would do anything to help the cause.

Tina Seitzinger

I feel so lucky to have your family in my life and Mason in very close to my heart. He is a special little boy, full of life and an inspiration to all of us. I am honored to help you put together this fundraiser for such a wonderful cause. It means a lot to me that I can be involved - I love you all!

Sean Gaffney - Mason's Daddy

Thank you for all of the wonderful comments. It makes everything a little easier knowing we have such a great support system. Mason is my son. He is my every reason for living. There is not a moment within the day that I do not think of him and wish I was with him to see his brillant blue eyes and amazing smile. He has had nothing come easy in his very short life and yet he never complains, never gives up and never ever stops loving. He can melt your heart with just one look. He is our world. Sometimes I have to stop and think about how I have been so lucky. Lucky to have a boy like Mason and lucky to have a wife like Melanie. She is the glue that holds us all together. She goes and goes and goes, without ever stopping to take time for herself. She is the best mother to Mason that I think there ever could be and the only person I could ever see me fighting this battle with. I love her. I wish I could take all of Mason's pain away. I wish it could be me that had to endure the endless testing and poking and proding. I hope and pray that we can find something to make life easier for those with Chiari. Mason I love you and no matter what I will be here for you, through everything. Your Mom and I will stop at nothing to take care of you and we all know you give that love back ten fold or more. Thank you Mel, for doing all of this. You are so amazing. I come home from work and want to just fall asleep and yet you have been running all day, doing a million things and still find time to give yourself to everyone and you never complain. You are just so amazing. I love you both more then you will ever know.

Anne-Marie Tully

Good luck!

Wende

The site is beautiful. I think I try to avoid things like your "What is Chiari?" page with it's list of symptoms and consequences. Sometimes it's too scary.
I can't imagine how hard it is to go through this with a child that can't always tell you exactly what hurts and what is wrong.

Thanks for putting this together Melanie. The cause needs motivated people like you.

Aunt Pat, Uncle Butch & Ashley

Great job on the site. Let us know what we can do to support the cause.

Colleen DiClaudio

I love you and am so proud of you and Sean. Mason is so lucky to have you two as parents. And I am so lucky to have you all in my life.

Sherry Deacon

Mason, you are an absolutely amazing child. We are praying for you and wishing you all the best. I hope someday a cure can be found for this. Thanks to your mom and dad for starting this mission to help conquer Chiari.

Amy & Dean Horton

What a great site for people to learn and understand about Chiari. We wish your family and all families like this the best wishes for your children to lead wonderful lives to the fullest. Mason is truely blessed to have such supportive, caring and unconditionally loving parents as yourselves, you should be proud of yourselves. And I am sure that you are both blessed as well to have such a beuatiful son. Keep up the great work and best wishes for a life full of love and happiness with each other!

Kelly Harley-Bilbrough

You did a wonderful job on the website, I am glad to support the cause!

Kerri Simon

We are so blessed to have you guys in our lives! I'll do whatever you need/want to try and help! Love you guys!!

Blake Smith

hey Hope My Little Cousin is Alright and am sad to hear that this will increase as he grows older and would love to help out as much as i can !! x

Pam Bayliss

I Am So moved by the website to hear that little mason has this condition and so many others aswell as him.
If theres any way at all i can help out email me
All My Love To You All Auntie Pam xx

Julia Cruz

What a beautiful thing you are doing!! I look forward supporting your fundraising events.
Thanks for sharing this with me.

Kim Sharkey

What a wonderful website and hopefully you know that your Graham family will be there to support Mason!

Carol Botts

Hi Mason, it is so great that you have such a supportive family. I have read of all the love that surrounds you. This website for you and others is a wonderful example of that. I am glad that you were diagnosed at such an early time in your life so that you can get all of the help that you need from the very beginning. I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation at the age of 48 after years of miss-diagnosis. I can tell that you are a child that will not let this afflication hold you back. God bless you.

Lisa Pignataro

Our son will have his brain surgery on July 16,2009. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as well. How strong our little boys are amaze me. There are days that are wonderful and days that are just okay. I try to forget the bad ones and hold on to the good ones. Counting on friends and staying very busy seems to work for me . Many Blessings in the future. The Pignataro Family.

Sara Eaton

Please visit my daughters website: www.myleegrace.com. Please think long and hard about your second opinion. If am sure those doctors in Long Island are wonderful, however I have heard negative things from the Chiari Institute. Please contact me privately if you want more information. I personally don't have any experiences there, however I have heard and read stories.

Our daughter was decompressed at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. We have been fortunate because we live in Phoenix. We know of another excellent Neurosurgeon specializing in Chiari in Pediatric patients. Have you heard of Dr. Frim in Chicago? He works out of Comer Children's Hospital and is an excelllent doctor.

I look forward at talking with you soon. Keep fighting Mason, you and my daughter sound a lot alike!!

Hugs always,
Sara (Mylee's mommy)

Kristen

Hi Melanie! Thanks so much for stopping by my site. You've done a great job with Mason's site. :) GOOD LUCK at TCI! I know you will find hope and answers with the wonderful doctors there. They have helped me out so much with my past surgeries and as I contiue my treatment there. I will be keeping you and Mason in my thoughts and prayers. I will add your site to my links section, with the other info, to help others! :)

Have a pain free day!

Kristen

Leann

Hello!
We are so excited to see others raising awareness about Chiari and related disorders. My three daughters and I have Chiari and they have started a non-profit. Your family is amazing and we would love for you to come to a Chiari weekend at The Victory Junction Camp in Randleman, N.C. this Fall, Nov.13-15.
This is the most amazing place and will be absolutely free!
Miracle Wishes for you and your family,
Leann
www.miraclewishforchiari.org