I had exploratory surgery (March), then another to cut out the growth (April), and finally a third (Februaury) to place my first shunt. I was in and out of the hospital over the course of that year. I went in in April, just after I turned three and came out the last time in May 1971 - a month after my fourth birthday.
While I was going through this, there was a point when my fever was 105-108. This led to my being comatose for a week, after which I was paralyzed on my right side. I went through PT for this and eventually recovered to point where I am now only 10-15% paralyzed. I had to learn to walk again and do things left-handed instead of right-handed. While I was in the coma, my brain "switched" - because of the damage caused by the fever.
I had intermittent headaches between the ages of 10 and 17. My neurosurgeon thought my shunt would need updates, but it never did, and at the age of 19, he told me that the shunt had developed its own path in my body and would probably never be replaced. Well, not true.
I transferred from UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso) - where I grew up - to what is now MSU (Missouri State University) in Springfield, MO in 1988. I was okay until 1991 when the tubing pulled out of my shunt (at the age of 24, I grew half an inch!). My new neurosurgeon updated it from a VA to a VP, giving me 10 extra inches in my abdomen so that if I ever grew again, it wouldn't be a problem.
I graduated in May, 1992. I did lose part of the semester, but was able to get the coursework to catch up either done or waived. My professors understood and were very liberal in allowing me to continue. Everything was fine until the spring of 1997 when my tubing suffered a protein blockage and was subsequently replaced.
The shunt itself (my ORIGINAL) lasted until two years ago. I had the original shunt (don't know the model - in my head for 34 years - in the right occipital lobe) replaced. When they took it out they drained the fluid externally, because there was no shunt present. This went on for three days. I then went through two shunts that were placed and subsequently failed. I now have a Codman Hakim model just to the right of my forehead.
At the time, I was working as a substitute teacher while interviewing with the district for a full-time teaching position in the elementary schools (I finished a masters degree in communications and obtained my teaching certificate from 1997-2002).
I consider myself EXTREMELY lucky. I was able to attend school without being in remedial classes, went to college, graduated, went to grad school and then got my teacher certification. I was to start as a fourth grade teacher last year, but could not because I ended up in the hospital in May 2003 - one day after my interview (I got the job but couldn't take it). So, I'm workign as a substitute again after taking this past year off for PT/OT and recovery.
This is where things stand now. All my friends on the faculties in the two schools I work at told me that they saw me slowly getting sick, but didn't know what the problem was. They are all very glad to see me back. As a certified (early childhood and elementary) teacher, I do a very good job as their substitute. They are each disappointed when I have to work at the other's school, but they understand.
I plan to teach while I am working toward my Microsoft Certifications. Obtaining the certifications should take me two to three years. I may teach longer than that depending on whether or not I'm still enjoying it. I then plan to work for the school district's IT department as a technology trainer.