This interrupted case study explores the central nervous system (CNS) by comparing normal CNS anatomy and physiology to the true story of a woman with type I Chiari malformation (CM). Type I CM is a condition involving anatomical anomalies of the hindbrain that may cause the protrusion of cerebellar tissue into the spinal cavity. These defects can compromise brain and cranial nerve function and disrupt the normal flow of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Stacy Ropp, a patient with type I CM, narrates her experience with this condition in four parts. In Part I, she discusses her signs, symptoms, and initial diagnosis; in Part II, she explains her initial treatment; in Part III, she reveals recurring symptoms, and in Part IV, she shares how a second opinion results in a more successful treatment of her condition. Specific concepts addressed in the case study include skull and vertebral bones associated with the CNS, CSF flow, neural reflexes, neural pathways, and cranial nerves. The case is appropriate for use in a variety of human biology courses with an emphasis on anatomy and physiology, neuroscience, pathophysiology, or radiography.