Tennessee boy suffering from incurable brain condition selected as national ambassador
January 17, 2020 by PHF
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SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WZTV) — A Tennessee boy suffering from an incurable brain condition has been chosen as a 2020 National Ambassador of Hydrocephalus Awareness.
Hydrocephalus is a condition where excessive fluid gathers in the brain, widening spaces and placing potentially harmful pressure on brain tissues. According to the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, Hydrocephalus occurs in approximately one of every 500 births. Untreated, it could be fatal.
Jaden Stallbories of Spring Hill was diagnosed with the condition in 2014 at just 3 years old. He has survived four life threatening brain surgeries due to the fluid buildup in the brain.
“If you look up the definition of survivor, there’s a good chance you would see a picture of Jaden featured,” the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation said. “Everybody that has met Jaden will tell you all about his sense of humor, and how he is such a sweet little boy. Throughout everything that he has endured, he still smiles and laughs. He has never let anything dim his light, and that is why he is our hero.”
The 8-year-old was selected as one of two children across the country to serve as this year’s 2020 National Ambassador of Hydrocephalus Awareness. Jaden will join 3-year-old Kaylie Mae Lingor of Texas in his ambassador role to spread awareness for the illness as well as be featured in a national advertising campaign.
Jaden seems excited to represent; “I am really happy to be a part of something that is for hydrocephalus.”
Jaden and his family will travel from Spring Hill to Washington, DC in August for the organization’s Annual Issues & Action Hydrocephalus Conference.
“We are so grateful that Jaden was picked to be the 2020 Ambassador. It means so much to us to have the opportunity to be involved with the PHF, and to do this with Jaden,” the child’s parents released in a statement.
For more information on the condition, click here.
8-Year-Old Jaden Stallbories From Tennessee Selected as 2020 National Ambassador of Hydrocephalus Awareness for Incurable Brain Condition
January 7, 2020 by PHF
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8-Year-Old Jaden Stallbories From Tennessee Selected as 2020 National Ambassador of Hydrocephalus Awareness for Incurable Brain Condition
Jaden was born January 21, 2011. Unfortunately, labor was difficult, and he endured some complications.
Jaden was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus in 2014 at 3 years old. He would get very sick, it seemed like he was vomiting almost every single night and sleeping most of the day. We were consistently being told that it was “just a virus” and that he was fine. June 30, 2014, Jaden went in for a brain MRI for his genetic testing workup, but we were not expecting anything to actually be wrong with his brain.
We got a call 2 days later from the neurology team, informing us that Jaden has Hydrocephalus and needed to have brain surgery as soon as possible. In August of 2014, he had his first shunt placed. Since then, Jaden has had 3 additional brain surgeries, and many more hospital stays.
Jaden’s most recent surgery was August of 2018, when he received his new shunt. We are keeping our fingers crossed that this one lasts much longer than the last, and hopefully we can stay out of the OR for a while!
Everybody that has met Jaden will tell you all about his sense of humor, and how he is such a sweet little boy. Throughout everything that he has endured, he still smiles and laughs. He has never let anything dim his light, and that is why he is our hero.