Claudia Martinez, a medical student, survives 6 brain surgeries while pursuing her dream of being a doctor

A medical student in Texas is about to graduate even after undergoing six major brain surgeries throughout her studies.

Claudia Martinez, 28, underwent experimental surgery in 2012 to treat a debilitating brain condition called Chiari malformation. The disease causes an extension of brain tissue in the spinal cord, resulting in permanent paralysis.

Since then, she has had five other operations and even suffered a stroke, which has made her unable to move from neck to foot.

Despite these difficulties, Martinez was able to recover enough to continue his studies. She then graduated from the University of Texas with an average of 4.0 and was accepted to her faculty of medicine. She is now in a year to realize her dream of becoming a doctor.

In an interview with Fox News, Martinez explained what helped her stay active despite all the challenges she faced.

"My journey has been long and sometimes unthinkable, but what makes me move forward are my future patients," she said.

"I learned that we did not necessarily need treatment. We needed inclusion, patience, accessibility and people willing to work with us to to give us reasonable accommodations that we empowered to. "

What is Chiari malformation?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Chiari malformations are structural defects located at the base of the skull and cerebellum. These two areas help control the body's balance.

Healthy people have the cerebellum and parts of the brainstem located just above the aperture of the skull to allow the spinal cord to pbad through the structure, commonly called foramen magnum.

However, when a part of the cerebellum extends abnormally well below the foramen magnum and even into the superior spinal cbad, it results in a Chiari malformation.

Doctors think that MC often develops when part of the human skull is deformed or smaller than normal. This causes depression of the cerebellum in the spinal cbad and the foramen magnum.

The condition also exerts pressure on the cerebellum and brainstem, causing a blockage of cerebrospinal fluid flow and affecting the normal functions of both parts of the brain.

Causes of Chiari malformation

There are several possible causes of CM in people. The most common causes are structural defects in the spinal cord and brain, which sometimes occur during fetal development. This may be due to genetic mutations or poor nutrition on the part of the mother. Doctors call this affection primary or conbad malformation of Chiari.

Another possible cause is excessive drainage of cerebrospinal fluid from the lumbar or thoracic spine. This can be caused by illness, infection or traumatic injury. This condition is called Chiari malformation acquired or secondary.

Common symptoms of CD include neck pain, hearing or balance problems, numbness or muscle weakness, dizziness, difficulty speaking or swallowing, and vomiting. In some cases, sufferers also suffer from insomnia, depression and hand coordination problems and the use of fine motor skills.

In the case of Martinez, she had an epileptic seizure while she was studying at the University of Texas. She also had a stroke, which robbed her of much of her mobility.

After his series of surgeries, Martinez was transferred to TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital for rehabilitation. This helped her to regain her ability to walk, feed, dress and even bathe herself again.

She now shares her time to recover and finish her medical studies. She also shares her experiences with people on social media.

"I thank God every day for what I've lived, [because] That's how I found my vocation, "writes Martinez on one of his posts.

"I have officially decided to do a residency in PM & R (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)."

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