By June Cook-Selman
A few weeks before returning to Hamilton College for my sophomore year, I was diagnosed with Chiari malformation and told I needed surgery. As a thyroid cancer survivor, the last thing I wanted to do was have another surgery (especially brain surgery!) and spend more time in a hospital. But my Chiari journey was a walk in the park, because I was treated by Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield and Alexa Kisselbach, NP, at the Chiari CARE program at Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery.
Dr. Greenfield and Alexa are a dynamic duo, and from my very first appointment I knew I was in the best possible hands. They'll save your life and make it look like a piece of cake! They helped plan my surgery and recovery time so that it wouldn't interfere with my academics, and continued to remind me that I would go on to live a normal, long, and healthy life.
“From the very beginning, I knew I was in the absolute best hands.”
Much of June’s pain was caused by syrinx in her spinal column. Her before-and-after scans show the dramatic reduction in both its length and total volume.
Three months after my Chiari surgery, my syrinx had almost completely disappeared — and along with it, so had much of the nerve pain I was experiencing. Since the surgery, I have been able to get back to exercising without pain. I've been able to go running, hiking, and go on long walks with friends. More importantly, though, I can see a future where I am healthy and free of brain and spinal cord issues.
I can't even begin to express my gratitude for Dr. Greenfield and Alexa. Not only are Dr. Greenfield and Alexa incredibly skilled, knowledgeable, and confident, but they are the most compassionate and reassuring medical team I've ever had. As someone with a history of medical trauma, I value empathy and patience from my doctors. I came to every appointment with tons of questions and worries, and always left feeling heard and reassured. I could not have gotten through this difficult moment in my life without the love and support of my friends and family and the care and compassion of Weill Cornell Medicine Neurological Surgery.
