Life Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect to be Beautiful with: Jeff Pearson

 Hydrocephalus is a
neurological disorder caused by an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in
the ventricles (cavities) deep within the brain. This excess fluid causes the ventricles to widen, putting
harmful pressure on the brain's tissues. Its a life-threatening condition
that affects more than 1 million Americans.  Anyone, at any age, can develop hydrocephalus,
according to the National Institute of
neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National  Institute

For TV Host Jeff Pearson “I was
born in Ft. Collins, CO, in 1977. When I was 2 weeks old, it was confirmed that
I had hydrocephalus and aqueductal stenosis, and I received my first shunt.
Over the next few years, I had several surgeries, most related to hydrocephalus
through about age 10. When I was 18, the summer after graduating from high
school, I had a couple more hydrocephalus-related surgeries (one of which was a
revision). Following those two surgeries, I had a nice long break for about 18
years.

During that time I graduated high school, traveled the world for a year
as a singer with a group called Up with People, became a productive, working
adult, married Catherine, and we now have 3 amazing children (Elizabeth, Nick,
and Kacia) that are growing up way too fast.

Between 2013 and 2022, I had 6 more surgeries - 5 of them were directly
related to hydrocephalus. Shortly after a revision in 2018, I was sitting in
the exam room waiting for my neurosurgeon to come in to do a follow-up. It was
quiet in the room, and I began to hear sounds from the room next to mine that
sounded like distraught parents. I thought to myself, "I wonder if they
are finding out that their child is going to have brain surgery..."

That got me thinking and my mind was flooded with thoughts of my parents
and what they may have felt after hearing that I had to have brain surgery when
I was just 2 weeks old, not to mention all the revisions over the years, the
worry they must have felt every time I rode my bike or skateboard somewhere,
climbed...anything, or went snowboarding.

I wondered if they had any support while I was growing up. Did they have
anyone that they could relate to while raising a child with this condition?
That gave me the beginning ideas about what would become Hydro with Hope. My
wife, Catherine, and I started brainstorming how we might be able to help
people. We ultimately decided to join the online community on social media
(primarily Facebook and Instagram at the time), and we started our own private
group.

The idea behind this was to be able to reach people all around the world
and let them know that, despite the scariness of brain surgery and the ensuing
challenges of living with hydrocephalus, there's HOPE.” He joined me this week
to tell me more.