I am 52 years old. When I was 7 or 8 months old (June or July 1956) I had a shunt implanted by Dr. Louis J. Gogela (Lincoln, Nebraska). I am now trying to better understand my surgery.

I was told by my Mother, that the Doctor who developed the shunt had performed the procedure only a few times before my surgery and that Dr. Gogela had done about ten.

I have long felt that I was almost alone with my situation. I have optic nerve damage in my left eye and since the shunt was installed thru my right ear, I am deaf in that ear.

William E. Kendra

I sympathize with you sir. I'm 30 and I've had shunt since age 33 days old. My present shunt has given me some problems and I have found out from ER doctors and at least one other neurosurgeon that my shunt is disconnected. I have a barium laced cord with a Denver reservoir. This May, CPS took my little 7 year old girl because of my shunt problems. They have had her for 6 months now as I have been trying to get help for the shunt. Presently I have leaking near the valve and the fluid squirts down my neck. I'm sorry about the lengthy reply but I hope you are doing OK.