Mom of 10 knew she needed brain surgery but worried about risks

Diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, this mom is recovering and back home with her family.

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

For nearly a decade, Megan Delaney has suffered with severe headaches, dizziness, and numbness in her leg and arm. She knew she needed surgery but said she put it off because her children needed her.

Megan and her husband, Sean, are the parents of 10 children – five boys and five girls – ranging in age from five to 17. All were born at IU Health hospitals. They lost an 11^th baby, born prematurely in 2017.

“A mama worries about being away from her babies,” said Delaney. “I knew I needed surgery, and I knew there were risks. Now I wish I’d had it sooner.” Chari Malformation is a structural abnormality in the skull that causes the brain to move into the spinal cord. It occurs in about one in 1,000 people in the United States.

“It’s a congenital anomaly. It’s usually discovered if there are symptoms,” said Delaney, 40. In 2015, she was in a car accident, hit her head and a CT scan revealed Chari Malformation. “For so long I’ve had ugly migraines, and they thought it was hereditary. Unfortunately, that’s how Chari goes. If you have symptoms, then it’s reason to look into it.”

On July 29, Delaney wrote: “My heart broke as I left my little ones this morning, so many tears.” She said she fought anxiety as she was admitted to IU Health Methodist Hospital. In the care of Dr. Matthew Pease, Delaney underwent decompression surgery on her brain. Other than birth of her children, it was the first time Delaney had been inpatient in her adult life. This time was different. Specifically, the surgery was a laminectomy, as well as complete removal of her C1 vertebrate and shaving down her C2 vertebrate.

The day after surgery she posted a photo waiting for occupational and physical therapy. She had several stitches in the back of her head and reported that she was able to walk 25 feet and sit in a chair for a few minutes. The following day she was moved from ICU to the Neuro Care floor and on August 2 – five days after surgery - she was back in her Southport, Ind, home with her husband and children.

Delaney remains in the care of Dr. Isaac Lamb, an adult neurology resident. Before surgery Delaney couldn’t bend down without feeling dizzy. She couldn’t cough or sneeze without getting a migraine. She still has some headaches, and continues with PT for her left leg, but every day she is improving.

“My leg used to go numb and now I can wiggle my toes so that’s an improvement. The pressure in the back of my head is relieved and I’m feeling better,” said Delaney. “That’s the thing with Chari. There’s no cure; you treat the symptoms.”

She anticipates four to six months of full recovery and said that even though she feels a little tired, she is back to enjoying the things she loves with her kids - coaching volleyball and basketball, attending soccer games, and spending time outside. Seven of the children attend St. Roch Catholic School; her oldest daughter, 16, attends Roncalli High School, and her oldest sons, 15 and 17 attend Indiana Agricultural & Technology School.