It’s one of the most common birth defects, but chances are you haven’t heard of Hydrocephalus. Donna West hadn’t either, until her baby daughter Willow was diagnosed with the condition.

“We were scared, we cried. We definitely looked at her wanting to know why,” said West. “Very worried about what type of lifestyle she was going to have.”

West said she first noticed something was wrong early on. Doctors would later confirm the infant had the condition.

“She was 2 months old and in her car seat, she tilted her head,” explained West. “When we were told it was so bad that it didn’t look like she had a brain, we were definitely scared.”

Hydrocephalus, which means “water on the brain” is a condition where excessive fluid builds up on the brain. It can be acquired after head trauma, develop during a pregnancy issues or be hereditary.

There’s no cure, but the most common treatment is implanting a small device called a “shunt” during surgery to help the patient drain the extra fluid from the brain. In 12 months, Willow underwent 12 surgeries to treat her condition.

Just shy of reaching two years old now, West says Willow is doing good.

“We’re very very blessed that she has the abilities that she does,” West told FOX 17 News. “Her brain has been able to fluff out in her head.”

West has taken her experiences with the condition and turned it into platform to raise awareness for Hydrocephalus. According to the Hydrocephalus Foundation, one to two of every 1,000 babies are born with hydrocephalus, making it as common as Down’s syndrome and more common than spina bifida or brain tumors.

“I decided to join the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation,” she said. “In order for me to get the word out, I’m the Co-Director here in Michigan.”

West has held a fundaiser for the non-profit every month this summer in West Michigan. At the end of August, she took her fight to Washington, DC, where she meet with Michigan lawmakers to ask them to join a caucus started by the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation.

She explained, “If we get more Congress representatives to join on, then when the legislation comes up for funding then they’ll be more likely to pass the bill… Right now we know research money is tight, we understand the budget in the country, so right now awareness is the key.”

West is planning another fundraiser for this Sunday, September 9th. She’s teaming up with Hydro Angels Over America to host “Bowling for a Healthy Brain” at Westgate Bowl.

Rep. James Langevin & Rep. David Cicilline Join Hydrocephalus Caucus

Murphy Joins Hydrocephalus Caucus

Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition caused by abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain. The condition can occur at any age, affects an estimated one million Americans, and in some cases, can cause death. One out of every 500 babies is born with hydrocephalus in the US, and is the leading cause of brain injury in children. Instances of hydrocephalus are also being found in an increasing number of veterans who develop the condition as a result of brain injuries suffered on the battlefield. Unfortunately, there is no known single cause of hydrocephalus and there have not been significant advancements for treatment over the last fifty years.

Jenna Sciulli, a resident of Chartiers Township in Washington County, has been working to raise awareness about the issue both locally and nationally. Sciulli, who serves as Pennsylvania State Director of the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation (PHF) recently visited Rep. Murphy’s office to discuss the challenges facing parents of children with this condition. She knows first-hand what it’s like because her five-year-old son has hydrocephalus and must attend speech and physical therapy every week.

“I commend Mrs. Sciulli for her tireless efforts to educate lawmakers and the public about this healthcare issue,” said Congressman Murphy, who serves as co-chair of the Doctors Caucus in the House. “Thanks to her dedication, I am joining the Congressional Hydrocephalus Caucus to help inform members of Congress about important research into hydrocephalus diagnosis and treatment, so we may save lives and one day find a cure.”

On Friday August 24th, 2012 over 70 people representing 20 families from 14 States joined together for PHF’s 2nd Annual Hydrocephalus Awareness Day on Capitol Hill.

The event was a complete success as we had scheduled meetings with staffers for 35 Members of Congress and visited many more offices to drop off literature.

The event started on Thursday night with the PHF Meet & Greet Reception at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Friday morning we boarded buses and headed to the US Capitol, where we set up shop in the beautiful and historic Cannon Caucus Room. Meetings were held from 10:30 until 3:00pm at the various House & Senate Office Buildings.

Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors Medtronic & New Jersey Right to Life for underwriting the event.

Save the Date:
The 2013 3rd Annual PHF Hydrocephalus Awareness Day on Capitol Hill will take place Thursday August 22nd, (PHF Meet & Greet Reception) & Friday August 23rd, (Day on Capitol Hill)!!

Affecting one in 500 children, hydrocephalus is a condition in which excessive fluid gathers in the brain, abnormally widening the spaces in the brain and placing potentially harmful pressure on brain tissues.

Many of those affected cannot lead full and productive lives – and untreated, hydrocephalus can be fatal.

In May, Brody’s mother, Madonna Logue Bove, became the Southern New Jersey/ Philadelphia chapter director of the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. Her goal is to raise awareness of the condition and to raise funds for medical research.

Brody’s story began when he was 18 months old.

“Brody had flulike symptoms. He was vomiting a lot,” Logue Bove said. “The next day his balance was off and his eyes were like bulging out of his head. We took him to the local hospital’s emergency room, where they treated him for dehydration, which has many of the same symptoms as hydrocephalus. Brody didn’t react to the treatment and was admitted. Luckily, someone that was familiar with hydrocephalus was able to examine him and thought there was a need for a CAT scan.”

The scan showed fluid on the brain, and Brody’s doctor wanted to send him to St. Christopher’s Hospital in Philadelphia for immediate surgery. But, he was afraid Brody would not survive the ride.

“I was just freaking out this whole time,” Logue Bove said. “I had no idea what hydrocephalus was. I was so scared.”

Brody’s doctor made some phone calls, and finally found a neurosurgeon in Atlantic City who agreed to perform surgery. An external catheter was put in Brody’s brain to drain the fluid and relieve the pressure on his brain. Brody was taken to St. Christopher’s, where a shunt was put inside his brain with a tube that runs down his neck to his stomach. The shunt diverts the excess fluid to Brody’s stomach, where it can be drained out.

“What makes the condition so bad is that it is a lifelong condition,” Logue Bove said. “As the child grows, a new shunt has to be put in. Right now, if all goes well, Brody won’t need surgery again until he is 8. But there can be many complications. Brody had to have surgery after an infection, and there can be other complications as well. It’s hard because you really never know when something will happen and he will need surgery. Through this whole ordeal, Brody has been a terrific kid. He was so well behaved. He had to be restrained because he tried to pull out the external catheter. But once the shunt was in, he was fine. He just seems to take everything into stride.”

Brody’s condition may have caused some developmental delays, and Logue Bove is going to have him evaluated soon, she said.

“His eating habits were affected, he won’t touch anything soft,” Logue Bove said. “And his speech may be a bit delayed, but doctors said he made a remarkable recovery. Other children with hydrocephalus are far worse off. Doctors don’t know why Brody developed this condition, since he didn’t have it from birth. Children who do have it from birth sometimes have brains that aren’t fully developed and have severe problems. Others get the condition from a brain hemorrhage or tumor.”

Logue Bove got in touch with the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, and when she learned they needed a director for southern New Jersey, she didn’t hesitate to volunteer for the position.

“There is an extreme lack of awareness, and my goal is to increase knowledge and raise money to help find a cure. I hope to be able to provide support and hope to parents and families dealing with similar situations. There have been no advancements in treatment since the 1960s for this condition, and I hope to help change that. I plan to start some local fundraisers in September.”