Introducing National Face of Hydrocephalus Awareness 2012: Jaden Brown

The PHF is proud to present the winner and now the National Face of Hydrocephalus Awareness 2012, Jaden Brown:

Jaden was born in April 2010, unknowingly as a healthy child with no known health issues at birth. Jaden’s head started to grow at a rapid rate around 4 month of age. My older son has a “large head” and has had an MRI to confirm that there is no medical condition. So at Jaden’s 4 month well check- we all didn’t think much of his “big head”. When his head continued to grow our doctor recommended he have an ultrasound which, then lead us to an MRI and neurosurgery consultation. Because of where we live in Southwest Colorado, we have to travel to Colorado Children’s Hospital for specialty treatment which is about 350 miles from where we live. During the first visit with Jaden’s Neurosurgeon, we learned about the large amount of extra-axial fluid on his brain and that Jaden had also suffered a stroke.

He has a large amount of brain damage affecting the left side of his brain and right side of his body. Jaden’s diagnosis is Hydrocephalus, infant Stroke, Cerebral Palsy and a vision condition called Cortical Vision Impairment. Jaden had his Shunt placed in 10-2010. Knock on wood his one and only shunt is working well and his MRI’s show a lot of improvement fluid wise. Jaden works hard with physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. He is little to no use of the right side of his body and is developmentally delayed. His movement is = to a 6 month old, and cognitive = to a 12 month old.

Yet he is full of personality, strength and joy. It is amazing how many people’s lives he has impacted in his small years- his future is bright to say the least. Jaden has something in his smile that lights up a room. He enjoys working on therapy with his iPad, playing cars with his brother and laughing with his family ~ Jaden’s Mom Christina

Introducing the National Face of Hydrocephalus Awareness in 2012: Mackenzie Holcomb

The PHF is proud to present the winner and now the National Face of Hydrocephalus Awareness 2012, Mackenzie Holcomb:

Mackenzie was born in June 2000, and was diagnosed with hydrocephalus July of 2008 along with two brain gliomas. She had to have revisions in Oct 2008, March 2010, April 2010, Dec 2010 and just had another revision on Dec 23, 2011. Her Mom’s name is Amy and her Dad is Gary. She has two older brothers Brandon(26) and Paul(24). She has a kitty named Black Jack and is a huge Justin Bieber fan.

National Face of Hydrocephalus Awareness Contest Video

Watch the video of the contest drawing for PHF’s 2012 National Face of Hydrocephalus. Forward the video to the 2:14 mark to bypass advertisement and sound testing.

The winners are Mackenzie Holcomb, from Ohio, born in June 2000 and Jaden Brown, from Colorado, born April 2010.

Contest Winners Chosen & Announced LIVE Tonight!

The PHF will randomly select the winners of the National Face of Hydrocephalus Awareness Campaign Contest tonight, Tuesday, January 3rd, @ 8:00pm EST. The winners, one boy & one girl, from 159 entries will each receive a $500.00 donation in their name to the hospital/neurosurgeon of their choice.

Both winners will be featured as the PHF’s Spokesperson in a National Campaign to raise Hydrocephalus Awareness in 2012 leading us into September’s National Hydrocephalus Awareness Month!

You can watch the drawing life tonight @ 8:00pm EST by going on the Internet and visiting http://www.ustream.tv/phfcontest
(This is free and no additional software or hardware is required)

In addition, as soon as the drawing is finished, a copy will be loaded onto Facebook, Youtube and PHF Website.

Good luck to all our contestants!

PHF Featured Story: Glen Ridge High School Junior Goes to Congress

High School Teenager Collette Umar talks about her experience on Capitol Hill for the Hydrocephalus Awareness Day event

Read the full story: Last Friday, September 23, Glen Ridge High School student Colette Umar delivered a speech in Washington, DC at the first Congressional Adult and Pediatric Hydrocephalus Caucus.

The caucus, was co-chaired by Congressman Leonard Lance and Congressman Tim Walz along with the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. It was held in the Cannon building and was attended by members of Congress, aides, medical experts, foundation personnel and families affected by hydrocephalus.

  Collette and her father Erich Umar.

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