IOWA CITY, Iowa — Bentley Steven started having headaches when he was 2 years old, making him grab the back of his head and fall to the ground crying. They would last a few minutes and then he would be fine. The episodes gradually became more frequent but local doctors were unable to determine what was causing them.
Bentley was taken to a local emergency room following a particularly bad episode but before doctors could discharge him, his mom called their pediatrician, who ordered an MRI. Bentley was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, a condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal because the skull is too small or misshapen. He’s had two decompression surgeries to help relieve the pressure on his skull.
Read Bentley’s story here.