Christa Preston
Advice from Junior: Struggle, Overcome, Repeat

Junior suffers from hydrocephalus, often called "water on the brain," which ioccurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds in the brain due to a blockage. Left untreated, in addition to pain and suffering, infant hydrocephalus leads to significant brain damage, severe developmental delay, blindness, and ultimately death. In the developed world hydrocephalus is immediately treated with a surgical procedure to install a shunt with little long term neurological impact. But in the developing world, where 80% of hydocephalus cases occur, there is limited or no access to surgical care.
Struggle:
Overcome:
Struggle again:
Now that he is about 5 he is eager to start school and this will present a new challenge and Junior will have to struggle again. Junior lives in a rural area where he will attend a school where none of his teachers even know what hydrocephalus is or how to address Juniors unique needs. He will face social descrimination from his peers.
Overcome again?
This will be a difficult and painful time for the ever friendly and social Junior and we cannot prevent that. But we can start to change this, now. Alongside Home of Hope embraceKulture is working to ensure Junior's teachers receive training to help build a more inclusive classroom, which will not only give Junior the opportunity to learn and thrive but also foster acceptance and eventually friendships.