FAIRFIELD — A Quinnipiac University student recently received a $30,000 scholarship named in honor of a Fairfield 6-year-old with an incurable brain condition, according to a news release.

The Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, the largest pediatric-focused hydrocephalus advocacy and research funding provider in the country, announced on Monday that Ashley Dunbar, of Quinnipiac’s Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, was the first recipient of the Reagan Sloane Shanley Scholarship.

The scholarship is named for 6-year-old Fairfield resident Reagan Shanley. At 9-months-old, she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and had two brain surgeries before she reached 18 months.

“Our brave and feisty little girl has inspired us to be a part of the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation,” said a prepared statement from Cindy Shanley, mother of Reagan. Over the last 4 years we’ve raised almost $300,000 for the PHF through the generous donations of family and friends.”

Cindy Shanley said her family decided to created the scholarship in his daughter’s name as an effort to support students and researchers working to find advancements in treated hydrocephalus.

The scholarship Dunbar was awarded will be spread out over three years. She received three $10,000 checks to be used each year. The family said she was “the obvious choice” for the scholarship.

Dunbar was playing against the Yale University’s women’s ice hockey team in a game in the fall of 2013 when she was hit hard from behind and suffered a serious head injury, bringing her hockey career to an end, the news release said.

After her injury, Dunbar created a concussion support group at Quinnipiac and decided to focus on neurological research to understand how the body and brain function, and help support the fight against hydrocephalus.

“Reagan is truly a vivacious individual,” Dunbar said in a prepared statement. “Thank you again to the Shanley family and to the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation for their support and I am honored to have been named a Reagan Sloane Shanley Scholarship recipient.”

Reagan’s parents, Tim and Cindy Shanley, are the Connecticut State Chapter Directors of the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. They said the continue to remain optimistic that their daughter’s condition will continue to be managed through her current health procedures.

Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization intended to educate the community by raising awareness about hydrocephalus. The organization has 30 state chapters and provides support to families, friends and children affected by the incurable brain condition.

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A medical student in Connecticut was awarded a scholarship funded with monies raised by family and friends of a six-year-old Fairfield girl with an incurable brain condition.

The student is Ashley Dunbar at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University.

The Reagan Sloane Shanley Scholarship is named for Reagan Shanley who was diagnosed with hydrocephalus at 9 months and had two brain surgeries before she turned 18 months.

She was treated with an alternative surgery called Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy to create a bypass for the cerebrospinal fluid in the head and eliminate the need for a surgically implanted medical device called shunt in her brain.

“Our brave and feisty little girl has inspired us to be a part of the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. Over the last 4 years, we’ve raised almost $300,000 for the PHF through the generous donations of family and friends,” said Cindy Shanley, Reagan’s mother, and the foundation’s Connecticut State Chapter director.

“We’re committed to putting the funds toward supporting students and researchers in their efforts to find advancements in treating hydrocephalus,” said Shanley.

The recipient Ashley Dunbar, in 2013, was injured in a game for the Yale University women’s ice hockey team and suffered a serious head injury, ending her hockey career. Dunbar, of Hillsborough, New Jersey, graduated from the Lawrenceville School.

At college, she started a support group and did neurological research to understand how the body and brain function in order to help support in the fight against hydrocephalus.

She has received the first $10,000 installment of the three-year scholarship.

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By Congressman Roger Marshall

This week Caleb Wiggs from Leoti, Kansas celebrated his fifth birthday.

Caleb is grateful for many things this milestone, but perhaps one thing that many 5-year-olds overlook, he is grateful for his life. At the age of five, this condition has caused him to undergo three life-saving brain surgeries.

Caleb has been selected as one of the 2019 National Ambassador for Hydrocephalus Awareness for the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. As an ambassador, he will educate people across the country on this disease that so desperately needs medical advancements and treatment solutions. He will also participate in the 2019 Hydrocephalus Issues & Action Conference in Washington this August where he will meet with my fellow lawmakers.

Hydrocephalus can develop at the time of birth or later. As an obstetrician, I understand the severity of this condition from having to prepare new mothers for the challenges ahead and ensuring the best care for these newborns. Sadly, one to two of every 1,000 babies are born with hydrocephalus but there is hope. Robust medical research partnered with patient advocates like Caleb can bring new advancements to the finish line.

Caleb, your bravery and voice will have an impact on thousands of lives, including the many families fighting this condition.

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WESTHAMPTON, MA (WGGB/WSHM) — As a parent, one of the toughest thing you’d ever go through is hearing your child has a rare condition.

One Westhampton woman has used her diagnosis as a defining moment for the rest of her life.

“My parents, after I was born…were told I would never talk, walk, see, hear. They were advised to put me in a home. Thank God they didn’t,” said Isabella Sacharczyk.

Like many 20 year olds, Sacharczyk is in college studying for her future career, but she also has hydrocephalus.

“Hydrocephalus is water on the brain. It’s an incurable condition where the cerebral spinal fluid doesn’t drain. I have hydrocephalus,” Sacharczyk explained.

After her initial diagnosis, Sacharczyk has proven the doctors wrong each step of the way.

“I graduated from Hampshire Regional and am now in college. I’ve made it my mission in life to become a medical researcher to help find a cure for hydrocephalus,” Sacharczyk noted.

Sacharczyk is instrumental in the organization Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, where she is co-director for the Massachusetts chapter.

One of the groups biggest events is a fundraising walk.

“This past walk, we raised a little over $5,000. We do a walk here and an event in New York. Combined, every year, we have been able to donate about $10,000 to Boston Children’s Hospital,” Sacharczyk said.

Many in Westhampton are supportive of her efforts.

“Outlook Farms is absolutely incredible. They are gracious enough to allow me to put a donation jar near their register. I picked up the jars right before the walk and we had $150 to add to the total we raised for the walk,” Sacharczyk added.

We wanted to help, so on behalf of Western Mass News and Diamond RV, Jacob presented Sacharczyk with a check for $500.

“Every dollar gets us closer to a cure. I feel that we are close,” Sacharczyk said.

CLICK HERE for more information on Sacharczyk’s mission and CLICK HERE to learn more about the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation.

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