Meet Jessica McDermott: Courage in the Face of Adversity
By Jean Kinsey
16-year-old Jessica McDermott has undergone three major brain surgeries for Chiari malformation (CM) since 1999. She traveled from her home in Pennsylvania to Chicago, Maryland or New York for each of the operations. Doctors Milhorat and Bolognese did her latest surgery in New York this summer. She has had to return for several revisions of the shunts they implanted. An MRI in November, 2002 ruled out the possibility that her CM-induced syringomyelia, (SM), a syrinx in her spinal cord.
Jess still has bad days, but she is hopeful that the latest surgery will help her improve enough so that next year she can attend her local high school for her senior year. Due to her health situation, she has not been able to attend public school since she was 8-years-old. Jess studies with homebound teachers; a teacher comes to her house daily for each class. She does well in all of her classes but likes social studies and algebra best. Her future plans include college. If she is not physically able to attend school, Jess may consider Internet classes. She is thinking about becoming a veterinarian.
A big animal lover, Jess loves her golden retriever, Sandy, the best. Some mornings Jess doesnt want to get out of bed, but when she sees Sandy lying there looking up at her and wagging her tail, she musters the resolve to get out of bed and care for her beloved pet. Some who are physically challenged rely on trained dogs for help, but Jess just wants the companionship. Her cats, Blackie and Rascal, offer a special brand of camaraderie.
With dreams of going to her prom, Jess loves to dance. She said, I want to dance, dance, and dance some more. She looks forward to the times that a friend or family member gets married. Then she gets to dance! Music is another of her pastimes. She likes most every kind except rap. Hanson is her favorite group. She listens to their This Time Around before every surgery.
Movies are a great release for Jess. She has a hard time picking a favorite one because there are so many, but she likes Grease, Pearl Harbor, Footloose, Twister and all those movies from the 80s. My absolute favorite movie that I watch every time Im feeling really sick is Men in Black. Its such a funny movie and I just love it, Jess said.
Another way she keeps busy is by reading. She likes historical fiction and, she adds, Everything else I can get my hands on. Black and Blue, by Anna Quindell and The Princess Diaries, by Meg Cabot are two favorites.
Skilled in computers, Jess designs web pages, does research and makes friends with other Chiarians all over the world who call themselves zipperheads. An example of Jess web design talent can be seen by visiting her personal web page at
http://www.geocities.com/Squash11. Graphics, pictures of her head after surgery, as well as detailed information about Chiari help many who suffer from CM to understand the disease. Jess has a special section detailing shunts and how they operate. It is amazing to think that a sixteen-year-old designed this thorough and comprehensive site. Site visitors can easily determine how knowledgeable Jess is about Chiari.
Proud to have the support of her family, Jess said, Even though my 13-year-old brother likes to pretend hes a pest, he really is okay. He sends her stuffed animals and cards when she is hospitalized in another state. Her mom, an emergency room nurse, removed her stitches after one of her operations; they went on vacation immediately after leaving the hospital. Jess discovered that lying on the beach while recuperating helped the recovery process. Her aunt, Jone, has been a big support. When Jess was young, Jone was her caretaker during the times that her mother, Lee Ann, had to work. Jess said, Aunt Jone takes the place of the grandmother I never had.
What doesnt kill me makes me stronger. Jess favorite quote has been instilled into her lifestyle, She believes the turmoil she has suffered has indeed made her a stronger, better person. It even helped overcome the phobia of needles. Now they are common tools of the trade.
Although she suffers from dizziness, nausea and headaches, as well as numb hands and feet, Jess is still capable of using all her limbs. Not only is she grateful she can dance, she is thankful she can fly. Many people with Chiari have a difficult time with altitudes. Jess flew to Hawaii through the Make-A-Wish Foundation in April, 2001 and plans to return there someday.
When her mom noticed that Jess had a lot of free time on her hands, she told her about ASAPs Circle of Friends, a program in which volunteers send greeting cards to members going through difficult times. Jess wanted to make a difference; she signed up for Circle of Friends in January, 2002 and has been an active volunteer ever since.
When asked what she would say to someone who has just been diagnosed with Chiari, Jess says, I would tell them they are in for a difficult time, but just hang in there; they will make it.
Jessica McDermott has hung in there for eight years with Chiari, and yes, she will make it.
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