Caitlin Smith, a senior at Stephen T. Badin High School, is ready to graduate in a week and move on to the next chapter of her life. Smith has done some amazing things in her last year in high school while dealing with a rare condition called Chiari Malformation.

“Chiari is a condition where the cerebellum and typically the brain stem is descended further down into the spinal column causing overcrowding and pressure build up. This is usually caused by the occipital bone forming too small for everything to sit properly,” senior Caitlin Smith said.

Chiari impacts everyone differently and has a wide variety of symptoms.

“A common symptom is headaches in the back of head due to pressure build up. Others include trouble breathing, swallowing, and/or talking, balance issues, scoliosis, weakness/numbness of limbs on one side of the body, blurry vision, and ear problems. Mental symptoms can include things like anxiety, depression, ADD and ADHD. I personally had everything but ADD/ADHD,” Smith said.

Smith has had to deal with this disorder her entire life and it all started with her diagnosis at an early age.

“I was diagnosed when I was six and took annual trips to the hospital for MRI’s and to speak with my neurosurgeon. I was diagnosed early due to my mom having Chiari as well and her experience with her diagnosis,” Smith said.

Being diagnosed early is the key to thriving with this disorder. Unfortunately, that made Smith miss out on different opportunities growing up.

“I wasn’t allowed to do gymnastics, ride roller coasters, or jump on trampolines, and because of that I still can’t do a cartwheel,” Smith said.

However, Smith didn’t start to feel her symptoms of her condition get worse until her junior year of high school.

“I started getting more headaches whenever I did any sort of physical activity, hence me not playing softball my junior year,” Smith said.

Because her condition worsened so much, the only option was to have surgery.

“I ended up having surgery in November of my senior year for it where they removed part of my occipital bone, the first cervical vertebra, shrunk my cerebral tonsils, and opened the dura. It was a five hour surgery where I spent five days in the hospital,” senior Caitlin Smith said

The surgery went well and Smith was able to return to softball for her senior season.

“My coaches were worried about putting me back to catching but I explained I was at less risk now than before the surgery and I have now made it through 27 games with no problems or headaches,” Smith said.

Smith is an inspiration to all at Badin and her story is so impactful. Even though her life hasn’t been the easiest, she has persevered through all of the trials that led her to this point.

“I now have a better quality of life and feel 100 times better than I did leading up to my surgery,” Smith said.