Living with a shunt
I am now 19 years old and still have the same shunt! Specialists have previously told me that it is likely that my shunt is no longer working, but in many ways, this is a huge positive for me as it means that my brain has learnt to cope without it. I find this quite incredible, considering it was such a big surgery. I didn’t walk until the age of two but I am very lucky in that I live a very normal young adult’s life. That’s not to say I find everything easy. I do struggle with some of the common conditions that hydrocephalus can cause, but I have found there are usually ways of coping with them so they don’t stop me enjoying life. I suffer from mild anxiety so I have learnt to carefully plan everything in advance. At school, it took my teachers and I some time to work out how I learn best, but they were really supportive. My coordination skills are not always on my side which is a challenge because I really enjoy sport. Running and singing are also real pleasures. In fact, singing has increasingly become a huge part of my life over the years. Over the last 18 months, with the support of my lovely singing teacher, I have achieved the Associate of the Royal School of Music Diploma (ARSM), which I am so very proud of, especially because I never thought I would achieve something like that.
I never thought I would achieve something like that.
