September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month which celebrates and honors the estimated one million Americans touched by hydrocephalus according to theHydrocephalus Association. Hydrocephalus is a condition that affects both people and animals worldwide by preventing cerebrospinal fluid from freely flowing in the “lakes, creeks and rivers” inside the head causing difficulties such as headaches, impaired vision and cognitive issues.
Minneapolis author Lesli Chinnock Anderson received her own diagnosis of hydrocephalus at the age of 45 after suffering from headaches and migraines her whole life. Her new medical memoir, “The Lakes in My Head: Paddling an Unexplored Wilderness,” chronicles her voyage of hope and healing after receiving this life-changing diagnosis and having a shunt surgically placed in her brain to help drain the excess cerebrospinal fluid. Anderson is sharing her story to be used as a source of inspiration and encouragement for those struggling with hydrocephalus and other conditions and challenging life events.
To learn more please visit, www.lesliandersonbooks.com.
I had a chance to interview the author to learn more.
1. Why is the lake imagery so helpful for understanding hydrocephalus?
I think it is because here in Minnesota we are literally surrounded by lakes, and many of those lakes are connected to each other by rivers and streams. We see them every day. Most people don't realize that inside our brains there are pockets of fluid connected by channels called aqueducts. The fluid is cerebrospinal fluid or CSF. It's filled with nutrients that feed our brains, and at the same time it flushes away waste from our brain cells. This is exactly how we use the lake and groundwater around us, to give us necessary nutrients and flush away waste. In hydrocephalus, there is an excess of that normally helpful fluid, CSF, which creates pressure on the brain. The cells that usually assist us in reabsorption of the CSF can't keep up with the production of it, which as far as we know is constant. The pressure prevents the brain from functioning properly, resulting in symptoms like headaches and nausea. If caught early enough, permanent brain damage can be prevented. Coincidentally, here in Minnesota and elsewhere in the world we are trying to figure out how to live with an excess of water caused by climate change, cleaning up after severe rains, extreme storms and flooding. The parallel is all around us, all the time.
2. What is most important for people to know about those who have hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus, like depression and other illnesses, can seem invisible to us. I am not limping, not wearing a cast, not showing obvious signs of having a medical condition. Yet I do have a daily struggle with memory problems, recurring headaches, and the ever present threat of my brain shunt malfunctioning which is life-threatening. I pay a lot of medical bills. Many of us struggle with depression. Some have other conditions along side their hydrocephalus, like Spina Bifida, seizures and Chiari malformations, that present other hurdles, as well. We want to be accepted and respected by others, and would like others to realize that we may have special needs, but inside we are just like you.
3. What advice do you have for others who have this condition?
Don't be afraid to tell others you have hydrocephalus and at the same time don't use hydrocephalus as an excuse to not be your best self. We all need close friends to be able to share our lives with. We need intimacy. Share your hydrocephalus struggles with those with whom you already have a close relationship. Lean on their support. Let yourself be encouraged by their love. Then try new things. Wear a helmet. Find out what you're good at. It is immensely freeing to not live your life in fear of others finding out about your condition. By the same token, it may not be necessary to tell some of your acquaintances about it. You may or may not want to reveal it to your employer. It depends on your personal situation. Hydrocephalus will not keep you from enjoying an abundant life.
“The Lakes in My Head: Paddling an Unexplored Wilderness”
By Lesli Chinnock Anderson
ISBN: 9781543413366
Available through Xlibris, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the author
Lesli Chinnock Anderson earned a Bachelor of Science in biology, completing a multitude of additional courses in medical and veterinary sciences, then going on to work in human hospital laboratories and as a veterinary assistant for almost twenty years. She was working on a veterinary technician degree when her hydrocephalus diagnosis and subsequent complications motivated her to change direction. Anderson is an active member in her church as her spiritual faith is an integral part of everything she does and enjoys the outdoors, being with her family and pets, music, giving support to others struggling with brain injury and has volunteered with the Hydrocephalus Association for over eight years. Anderson resides in Minneapolis with her husband.
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