We hope you had a wonderful 4th of July, full of fireworks and fun! The freedom we celebrate certainly is a precious thing! How lucky we are to be able to come and go as we please and take part whatever activities suit us.
But freedom is not quite as complete for a person with hydrocephalus. For at any given moment, the brain shunt they rely on for life could fail, sending them to the hospital for an emergency brain surgery! Imagine living a life where one’s activities and plans are always confined by the possibility of life threatening medical emergency!?!
As a case in point, just last year one of your fellow team hydro swimmers, Ryan Purdy, who also happens to live with shunt dependent hydrocephalus, was all set and ready to swim with us at Sharkfest. But the day before the swim, Ryan suddenly began getting intractable headaches. A trip to his neurosurgeon confirmed that the shunt his life depended upon, had indeed failed once again! So while the rest of us were boarding the ferries for our escape from the rock, Ryan was entering the operating room to undergo brain surgery in an attempt to save his life! Such is the uncertain life of a person with hydrocephalus. But the uncertainty can end, IF we find a cure!!!
Let’s do what we can to help Ryan, and others like him, by sponsoring research for this difficult condition!!
Won’t you ask a couple friends today to support you in your effort to raise funds and awareness for hydrocephalus research?
If you haven’t set up your fundraising page, you can do it here: it’s easy as american apple pie, and as impactful as a grand fireworks display!!
Happy birthday America! We salute you! We also salute Ryan, and all our team hydro swimmers!! Let freedom, and freedom from the uncertainly of hydrocephalus, ring!!!
If you are uncertain how to raise funds, check out some helpful hints here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lWjWgaFaDf4pgdf8yEAjnEdB8SFrfKlTI6oPAaYTKuI/edit