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Support ZAN THE MAN as we WALK to End Hydrocephalus! As you may know, hydrocephalus is a life altering, life threatening condition, caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, resulting in pressure on the brain. The most common treatment for this condition is brain surgery to implant a medical device called a shunt, which has a 50% failure rate in children within the first two years.
A shunt is not a cure, as many patients endure multiple brain surgeries throughout their lifetime, some more than 100. Imagine life knowing that the next brain surgery lurks around the corner because your shunt could fail at any moment. No one should have to live like this.
At the young age of 4.5 months old, Zander had his first brain surgery to fenestrate a cyst on his brain. The normal 3 hour surgery turned 5 as neurosurgeons realized it was a rather large cyst with smaller cysts around it. After a few days in the hospital without any complications he was sent home to heal. We had a follow up 2 weeks later in which we found out the ventricles on his brain were still enlarged and he had developed Hydrocephalus. They sent us home to pack a bag and go back to hospital to prepare for brain surgery #2 early that next morning to place a shunt in. Zander is now 7 years old and THRIVING. He has a little bit of cerebral palsy which mostly affects his left arm, however he has successfully graduated from physical and occupational therapy!! His shunt is almost 7 years old and doing well as of April 2024.
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