After years of chronic migraines, Hannah Strickland found renewed hope at HSC: “My life, which had once been a blur of suffering, was now vibrant with possibility.”
Hannah Strickland, seen here with her grandmother, Mary Baron, suffered for years with chronic migraines until a concussion exposed an underlying neurological condition.
For the first 17 years of my life, I battled an unseen enemy—severe migraines that caused crippling pain and twisted my stomach in knots, leaving me nauseous and fatigued. Medications became my constant companion, but nothing alleviated the pounding in my head. The cycle of suffering left me physically devastated and emotionally spiralling.
In early 2021, leading up to my 18th birthday, my body reached a breaking point. A seemingly minor concussion triggered an avalanche of symptoms that refused to relent. After visiting a concussion clinic, I was referred to Health Sciences Centre (HSC) to see neurosurgeon Dr. Perry Dhaliwal.
After experiencing a concussion, Hannah Strickland’s symptoms never improved.
Once in the care of HSC, I quickly underwent an MRI in May 2021, which provided clarity about what I had been dealing with my entire life. Dr. Dhaliwal diagnosed me with Chiari malformation type 2, a neurological condition where part of the brain extends into the spinal canal. My brainstem had herniated 17 millimetres into my spinal column, and when I suffered a concussion, it caused my brain to swell. With no room to expand, the swelling caused my brain to be pinched between the vertebrae in my neck.
The pressure on my brain and spinal cord caused a range of symptoms, including chronic pain, dizziness, extreme fatigue, and difficulties with basic daily functions. Dr. Dhaliwal told me that I needed surgery. While other kids in my class were thinking about graduation day plans, I was getting ready for brain surgery: planning my will and power of attorney. I was terrified.
My graduation day came and went in similar fashion to my senior year—blanketed with pandemic protocols and blurred by my chronic pain.
Hannah Strickland underwent a four-hour brain surgery on February 6, 2023.
On February 6, 2023, a few days ahead of my 20th birthday, I underwent a four-hour surgery that would alter the course of my life. My surgeon removed a portion of the back of my skull and a vertebra in my neck to create more space for the brainstem, alleviating the herniation. A duraplasty procedure was then performed, which involved opening the outermost layer of the protective covering around the brain and spinal cord to allow more space for the brain to expand. Finally, the surgical team placed a duraplasty strip to cover the open dura and prevent the brainstem from being compressed or pulled further into my spinal canal.
The health care professionals in the operating room took special care to braid my hair and shave my head with sensitivity, knowing that coming out of surgery with a completely shaved head would have added to my stress. After surgery, I woke up upset and scared, but the post-surgical team was so kind and made sure I could see my family right away. Less than 48 hours after the surgery, I was discharged—already a new version of myself.
To treat the Chiari malformation type 2, HSC neurosurgeon Dr. Perry Dhaliwal removed a portion of the back of Hannah Strickland’s skull and a vertebra in her neck to create more space for the brainstem.
As I recovered, the pain and conditions I had been dealing with my whole life faded away. For the first time in years, I didn’t need the medications I’d relied on just to get through the day. My life, which had once been a blur of suffering, was now vibrant with possibility.
Since my surgery, I’ve done things I was once told I would never do again—I’ve gone cliff jumping, snowboarding, attended music festivals, living the life I had once thought was beyond my reach. I have also graduated with honours from a health care aide program. Now, I work at a hospital—a job that allows me to care for others in the same way I was cared for.
Since undergoing surgery, Hannah Strickland has been able to get back to spending time with her friends and has graduated from a health care aide program.
The compassionate care I received from Dr. Dhaliwal and the health care professionals at HSC didn’t just heal me physically—it gave me my future back and inspired me to pursue a career in health care. This fall, I will begin the next chapter of my journey: earning my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree with the goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. Something that seemed impossible just a few years ago is now within my reach. But this is only possible because of the dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff who work tirelessly at HSC to provide exceptional care. Your donations support this vital work and offer hope and new opportunities to countless patients like me. Please donate to the HSC Foundation today.
Here’s to the future. Here’s to life.
With gratitude and hope,
Hannah Strickland
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