Brittany Faitao's HA WALK Page
September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month. For those of you who don't know- Hydrocephalus is a condition where there is too much cerebral fluid in the brain. It can be caused by a trauma, blockage, or in my case- a congenital malformation before birth. I was diagnosed through ultrasound when my mother was just 4 months pregnant. To solve the issue 2 shunts were put in to place in order to re-direct the fluid. Unfortunately, shunts provide just temporary relief for this issue, and their failure rate exceeds its success. Over the 30 years of my life, I've had 10 brain surgeries to correct, remove, and replace these shunts. Each brain surgery came along with an abdominal surgery; as the device runs from brain to abdomen. This condition has undoubtedly affected me physically, psychologically, and socially. The constant headaches and pressure make each day incredibly difficult.
Not only must we suffer neurologically; Hydrocephalus has the ability to cause ailments in any body system, adding to the suffering. I have personally dealt with endocrine, rheumatological, and gastrointestinal issues all stemmed from this chronic illness. Despite this, I refuse to call it an illness.- it is a condition in which we warriors prevail. My wish is that with research, more can be done to make life easier for us all.
I am a Registered Nurse caring for oncology patients and strive to give my patients the same love, care, and support that I have received through out my life.
I am proud to help raise funds yearly for the Hydrocephalus Association who work to provide funding, research, and hope to the thousands of us living through this chronic condition. This year we hope to have the opportunity to come together on October6,2025; those who are able will walk for a cure toward this debilitating condition. Whether in person or virtually, we can all make a difference.
We are Hydrowarriors and we are strong We may have Hydrocephalus but it does NOT have us.⚓
If you think this page contains objectionable content, please inform the system administrator.