Hydrocephalus - We need your help!

One of the main turning points in my was the birth of my first son, Ethan, in 2003. He came a week early, but was generally in good health. He has turned into an amazing young man who I am infinitely proud of, and I love him more than anything.

During his four month checkup, his pediatrician noticed his head size had quickly jumped over the curve of where it should be. To make a long story short, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which is basically “water on the brain”. In March 2004, he had a shunt implanted into his brain. The shunt takes the excess cerebrospinal fluid out of the brain and takes it down a tube, where it is safely flushed out with waste. He did fantastic, and is in great health now.

Hydrocephalus is usually a smaller byproduct of the much more dangerous condition of spina bifida. Most people that have spina bifida have hydrocephalus. Very few kids just have hydrocephalus. Ethan is a very lucky young man. He will be starting kindergarten in the fall due to his hard work, fantastic people helping him, and the support of friends and family.

However, as a father of a child with hydrocephalus, we need help. We need you to help push hydrocephalus into the public consciousness. Please visit some of these links and do something. Spread the word. Donate time, money, anything.

If you have any questions, contact me.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hydrocephalus/detail_hydrocephalus.htm

Hydrocephalus Association

Hydrocephalus