Jennifer,
Austin’s going to college for a Associate in Science Degree, (this takes 2 years) he then wants to go into neuro-diagognostic technology ...an EEG Tech (this takes 2 years) then he wants to Transfer to a 4 year college and if he can he wants to become a Neurologist specializing in Seizures and Hydro. Austin is going to a junior college in Orange County California How long has Austin had his Hydrocephalus? Since he was 6 weeks old ( he had E-coli meningitis at 2 days old ) he had one shunt then at 14 they had to place a Second shunt into a cyst or entrapped ventricle, so Austin has had Hydro all his life and now has 2 shunts, one is programmable Austin has many other conditions, he has a seizure disorder, DRD dystonia, he is Ataxic, has tremors, he is deaf in his right ear, he had a colloid cyst that was removed and he got really bad short term memory loss with that operation, he has some writing and thought processing problems, Austin has many conditions, and many revisions, but he really doesn’t think of himself as disabled just thinks he has to work hard to get anything Austin rides the bus, he cant drive a car, he cant ride a bike he has balance and multi-task issues, but he can do so many things he won 5000 in scholarships for college, he is living with a family on his own, he came up on the bus this weekend he can do everything, but, Does he get the help he needs?..... boy... no, he could use much more help, but being an adult the colleges only do so much, I think it could be better, yet his college counselor seems very good and they are helping quite a bit, with extra time on test, note takers and a quite place to take test, but with Austin's short term memory loss it can be hard for him to memorize everything. but every college is different, there is a college in Palm Springs California who specializes in people with conditions of the brain, seizures, Hydro, a many conditions it is called the college of the desert Austin’s Neuro talked to us about it, and I am sure there are many other schools who have programs of all sorts, College is never out of your grasp, you can start slow one or two classes and work up to more and remember to check on vocational services. Austin is up this weekend and I will ask him to read your post he E-mails a group of young adults he meet at the Hydro Conference from last spring in Baltimore and 2 years ago in San Francisco, maybe he could private message you and the two of you could talk over the inter-net, or he could just post to this forum, what ever you like it may take him a few days he is up to visit some old friends this weekend, but I will talk with him
My son is a wonderful person, and a great friend I am a better person just knowing my kid, he is great, sorry this was so long but I guess I wanted to talk Too
Hugs,
Deborah

Hey Deborah

I like to talk to and I am glad it was so long, you seem like the only real friend I have on here and I appreciate it, tell Austin to drop me a line anytime, like I said I don't have very many friends. Will Austin have to have any revision, my neurosurgeon told me maybe in two years I would have to have one, I hope I am ready for this one, considering the last one I was five or six. I am going to take a compass test on October 4th to see if I can get into a Community/Technical College. Does Austin have any remedial/special education classes? How often does he go to the ns? How often does he have a CT scan? Hope to talk to you soon!!!!

Hi Jennifer How are you doing? I have been very busy with my kids sorry I have not posted much
Hope things are well with you
Deborah

Thanks Deborah

No one is talking to me, and I am on here almost everyday, and it is ok, if you are busy, I also have time to talk. How is Austin? How many kids do you have? What do they think of Austin? Is his college life going better? How often does Austin go to the NS? Hope to talk to you soon!!!!

Jennifer

Hey WmM3 I am glad you are going to be my friend, the reason we don't have friends is because we are different because of our hydro, What kind of hydro do you have? Hope to talk to you soon!!!!

hey Jennifer.I came here for the same reason......I really feel quite lonely too.I don't believe hydro can stop us from doing anything we want.I am studying medicine and want to be a psychiatrist.Currently I am off school because in 2009 My shunt "died"but it was not diagnosed right away.Anyway,feel free to pm me.

Hey Jennifer! Nice to meet you!!!

Hi Jennifer, My name is Carrie and I am also 22. I am always happy to talk to anyone with Hydrocephalus as I really do believe that no one gets it unless they go through it, I get so sick of having to explain what Hydrocephalus is to people!

I will be 44 on the 16th, but I definitely agree. No one really appreciates what we have to go through, unless they have it themselves.

I was married for eight years to a woman that wish my health problems 'would just go away'. When my health went south, she dealt with it by being totally ignorant.

i have had the same issues with people, I'm a university student at the moment and even trying to explain things to the lecturers there can be a nightmare!