A �15m appeal for Oxford Children's Hospital
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Little people, Big needs
Hydrocephalus, from I suffer, is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within cavities, called ventricles, inside the brain. As the CSF builds up, it causes the ventricles to enlarge and the pressure inside the head to get bigger.
In my case, it was caused by a tumour, but can also lead from intraventricular haemorrhage, meninigitis, head trauma and cysts.
Because of this, I have to travel from my home in Didcot, to the oldest hospital in Oxford, The Radcliffe Infirmary. This is a hospital which is old and unwelcoming and is also an intimidating place for sick children and teenagers to be for treatment.
So, this is why I am determined to support this special cause, and to raise money for this appeal, because it will make the lives of sick youngsters a brighter place and better facilities, in a hospital dedicated to their needs.
I had to spend time as an inpatient at the city centre hospital children's ward, Leopold, but it is very rundown and not purpose-designed, and in fact, there were no rooms with computers, or entertainment, and very BORING!
I had cranio-neuro surgery (skull & brain), and it was a very worrying and terrifying time.
It was to me, boring being in hospitals, as there were no computers or playstations, and even the TV was old - and kept playing up! Whereas in a modern children's hospital, it'll have all the entertaining stuff and amusants, while being healed to recovery. It would be one fun of a place!
The parents at the moment at the Radcliffe Infirmary do not have any accommodation to stay on the wards, and some have to sleep on a row of cushions, on the floors - and I was there, as I can remember, 5 days. I was off school for over a month.
The surgery I endured was major. I have a zig-zagged scar from the top of my ear to behind my skull - a legacy of about hundred of stiches - and in the operation - I had to lose some of my hair on the left-hand side of my head - to allow surgeons to cut through the skull to remove a nasty lump, formed by some sort of bruise.