1992 and 1993

 In July 1992 when I was 10, I had a partial shunt revision. Not half my head of hair wasn't shaved.

However, seven months later my shunt stopped working in February 1993. I woke up one morning to the following symptoms from intracranial pressure:

 Vomiting, inability to walk, and very severe headache.  I needed to be carried into the Emergency Room. Of course, in the ER you have to wait a very long time before anyone can actually see you. Eventually I was moved to another room. 

As we were waiting for my neurosurgeon to arrive, another doctor came into the room and said the following:
 

'We have to wait until tomorrow morning to do the surgery.' 

 Upon hearing this, I knew I was going to die and how unfair this was.

 I was 11.

 My mom and another woman in the room started yelling at this doctor explaining why they couldn't wait until the following day. 

Then, my doctor came into the room and said:

 "We can't wait until tomorrow because she is under neurological stress and will be in a an irreversible coma by the morning. We have to do surgery now.'

Intracranial pressure from cerebral spinal fluid will cause brain herniation - Which would cause the brain to be pushed toward the spinal cord.  It's a life threatening situation.

I was then taken into the operating room for a full shunt revision. Where they changed both the valve and the distal catheter for a full shunt revision.

 Again, I was 11.  

Preoperative Diagnosis: Obstructed Ventriculopetrioneal shunt

Procedure: Removal and replacement of vp shunt.

Anesthesia: General Endotracheal Anesthesia. Utilizing Frane Administered.

 Procedure: The patient was taken to the operating suite, anesthetized and intubated and placed on the operating table in supine position.  Head, neck, chest and abdomen were suitable shaved and prepped. The old curvilinear incision in the scalp was reopened. The abdominal catheter was disconnected from the Rickham reservoir and there was found to be no flow from the Rickham reservoir.

 Nanometer was used to test the flow through the abdominal catheter which was found to flow down to a valve of approximately six centimeters of water. The Ventricular and Rickhan reservoir were removed. A brand new ventricular catheter was placed in the left frontal horn on a single passage with a flow of clear fluid under pressure. This was connected to a new Rickham reservoir. The Richkam reservoir was connected to the abdominal catheter and connection secured with 2-0 surgilon ties. The wounds were irrigated with saline solution and closed in layers from inside out utilizing 3-0 interrupted, stainless steel staples in the skin. A standard dressing was placed on the wound. The patient was taken to the Recovery Room in satisfactory condition. 

I had surgery the day before the Michael Jackson and Oprah Winfrey interview. Everyone on the children's floor was watching this interview that night (2/10/93) I left the hospital on 2/12/93. 

Ah, stainless steel staples.... 

I was home from school for a week while the wounds in my abdomen and scalp closed. I got to wear a hat at school which made me stand out more than usual as they weren't allowed. I was the only black student in the elementary school... 

My classmates (who sent me a card) and teachers knew why I was wearing a hat. The rest of the school did not know this. I would walk by students who would whisper 'She's wearing a hat...'

The staples had to removed with a tweezers at the hospital after some time. I was taken out of school for this. I could feel each staple coming out of my skin which was painful.

I'm just one of many people who has had major surgery during childhood....

After this, I didn't have surgery again for almost 17 years....