HomeMy WebLinkAboutHydrocephalus Month Letter_ ~
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Supervisor Bill Connelly
5280 Lower Wyandotte Road
Oroville, Ca 95966
Deaz Supervisor Connelly:
P.O. Box 1636
Oroville, Ca 95965
August 15, 2011
a~Tr~couNTY
ADMtNISTILAI'i4;:
O.ROVti ~;lr, CAL3FOR~~I~a
I am writing to you to ask that Butte County declaze September to be Hydrocephalus
Awazeness Month.
Hydrocephalus, commonly referred to as "water an the brain" is a serious neurological
condition that affects young and old alike. It does not discriminate among race, age,
ar gender. One out of every 500 babies in the U.S. is born with it. It can. be acquired
from surgery of the brain or spine, from head injury, infections such as meningitis, or for
no known cause during any decade of life. While it is treatable, there is no cure.
In the United States, medical expenditures on brain surgeries to install or replace the
shunt used to meat hydrocephalus exceed $1 billion annually. It is the leading cause of
brain surgery in children. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus {NPH} is an acquired
condition that generally affects people over the age of 50 and is often misdiagnosed
as Dementia, Alzheimer's.Dzsease or Parkinson's Disease. Dementia caused by NPH
is reversible with proper treatment. There aze feweir than ten centers in the U.S. that
specialize in treatment of adults with NPH. Due to lack of advancements in treatment
methods, many people with hydrocephalus aze unable to lead full and productive
lives.
There aze a lot of people in Butte County that have hydrocephalus. On a personal note,
my eight year old grandson has it and to date has had six brain surgeries. Without a cure,
he faces a lifetime of repeated brain surgeries.
In 2007, the State of California proclaimed September as Hydrocephalus Awareness
Month. In 2008, The United States Congress declazed September to be National
Hydrocephalus Month. Since that time, many states, cities and counties throughout
the country have proclaimed September to be Hydrocephalus Awareness Month.
For the first time ever, there is a Congressional Pediatric and Adult Hydrocephalus
Caucus which our local Congressman, Tam McClintock has }oined.
I am asking that you please help Butte County make a difference in the lives of our
hydrocephalus community and declaze September as Hydrocephalus Awazeness
Month.
Sincerely,
GJ2~--~