I was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus in-utero. Which meant that from birth it was “all-systems go”. Luckily my mother had her support network, particular my maternal grandmother who would become my staunchest advocate. I was lucky also to have secured as my Neurosurgeon Dr Ian Johnston (then of RPA Hospital and the Camperdown Childrens’ Hospital). My first shunt surgery was at two days old, when I was fitted with a ventricular atrial shunt, this was replaced with a Ventricular Peritoneal shunt when I was 7 months old, I have had subsequent revisions when I was 20 and again in May 2025. Perhaps unrelated, but perhaps not – I’ve also been treated for a range of eye problems including astigmatism, and epilepsy.
While this made social interaction difficult, and somewhat non-existent, it allowed me to cultivate passions and interests well beyond my years. I wouldn’t say I was an outstanding student, but I certainly left a mark – particularly in subjects such as history, where I was awarded my School’s Ancient History Prize in my final year. I also served my peers as a Prefect in both primary and secondary, and also as a Student Representative Councillor (for 3 years – finishing up as President). In my final year of high school, I also undertook Peer Mediation training.
In the second half of Year 11 (1999) I started to see my results slide, and my sleeping patterns were becoming disturbed, in September 2001 I was diagnosed with Epilepsy, and that to my surprise did not stop my History lecturer nominating me for the Honours Preparation course. Despite the epilepsy diagnosis and medications, my seizures continued – at an almost monthly frequency, until I developed a persistent earache in May 2003 – as my condition worsened, I was finally admitted to hospital, and my shunt was replaced. Recovery was slow, and my academic results for the rest of that year suffered, but I ended up graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History and Government and International Relations.
In the years since, I have embarked on a highly rewarding public sector career which has allowed me to use my research skills on a range of projects. I was also encouraged to undertake a Master of Administrative Law and Policy – which I completed part time.
What living with Hydrocephalus has taught me is that while there will be things I will never be able to do or experience, focus on those things that I can do and those experiences I can have, and be the best I can be. Hydrocephalus does not have to defeat us, even though some days may be harsher than others – as can be the ignorance of some around us – we simply have to acknowledge, ‘OK, I live with Hydrocephalus, it is not who I am’.