ARHS Mac Dude's Old webSite
What is Hydrocephalus?
The Hydrocephalus Association defines hydrocephalus as:
Hydrocephalus comes from Greek words: hydro means water, cephalus means head. Hydrocephalus is an abnormal accumulation of fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF within cavities called ventricles inside the brain. This condition may occur at any age. CSF is produced in the ventricles, circulates through the ventricular system in the brain and is absorbed into the bloodstream. CSF is in constant circulation and has many functions. It surrounds the brain and spinal cord and acts as a protective cushion against injury. CSF contains nutrients and proteins that are needed for the nourishment and normal function of the brain. It carries waste products away from surrounding tissues. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF that is produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. As the CSF builds up, it causes the ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to increase.
Wikipedia defines hydrocephalus as:
Hydrocephalus (pronounced /ˌhaɪdrɵˈsɛfələs/), also known as Water on the Brain, is a medical condition. People with hydrocephalus have an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. This may cause increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head, convulsion, and mental disability. Hydrocephalus can also cause death.
Why is hydrocephalus important to ARHS Mac Dude Productions?
When our founder (Patrick Healy) was six months old, Dr. Newsom diagnosed him with Hydrocephalus. Between the time Patrick was six months of age and thirteen, Patrick had to be rushed to the Emergency Room a total of eight times during his childhood.
When Patrick was thirteen, the neurosurgeons opted to try a new treatment. After the surgery, Patrick was in a coma for a week. His mother was worried sick that Patrick was brain dead, but, when he woke up, his life was changed for good.
Unfortunately, Patrick’s cure is one of the rarest successful cases to this day. There are many more people out in the world who suffer from the unreliability that comes with having a shunt inside of them.
A SHUNT IS NOT A CURE FOR HYDROCEPHALUS!
While Patrick has had the luxury of being able to live as normal as possible, that is not the case for people who live with a shunt.
Many people who have shunts have required multiple revisions and will never be able to experience many of the things that most kids take for granted. Every time Patrick thinks about the days when he got so violently sick, it makes him cry.
We at ARHS Mac Dude Productions are waiting for the day when a cure for Hydrocephalus is created. That’s why we at ARHS Mac Dude Productions are proud to say that we’re officially a “Hydrocephalus Owned Business!”
Here are two videos that explain what Hydrocephalus is in detail