11 September 2023 , 15:40
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A mother has opened up about the "six years of hell" her family has endured since her daughter was diagnosed with a painful condition that sees fluid build-up in the brain shortly after birth.
Farrah was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which can be congenital or caused when a mum contracts an infection during pregnancy. Casey Travers fears that her daughter, who celebrates her sixth birthday on September 16, developed the condition because she was a Strep B carrier while pregnant with her. Farrah's life has been marked by a relentless cycle of emergencies, hospital visits, scans, brain surgeries, and lumbar punctures due to the complex condition she bravely battles with no end in sight.
Farrah as a baby (Family Handout)
Farrah in hospital following a brain operation (Family Handout)The mother-of-four told BelfastLive: "She's had a shunt in her brain since she was three months old. It's been six years of hell." While Casey's other three children enjoy the freedom of play, Farrah's activities are limited. "Farrah can do those things but she's restricted because for certain periods of time in the morning, she's as pale as snow and she has to go back and lie down. We worry like mad about her," Casey said. "She's been coping with it since she was a small baby so she's used to it now. When she's in the hospital she is unwell and the hospital staff look after her."
Young Farrah is battling a condition that not only disrupts her education but also instils in her a fear of hospitals, Casey added: "She hates the thought of the hospital [and] doesn't want to go because she doesn't think it will help her." Farrah's pain often drives her to retreat to her bed, and her growing anxiety has led her to self-inflict pain before confiding in her family. "She's now at an age that she's now hiding things."
Despite undergoing six operations, Farrah's bravery continues to astound her mother. "Sometimes she shocks me because I couldn't go through that and I'm 30 years of age. Farrah just goes in and they put that mask on her." Farrah also lives with a Telemetric Intracranial Pressure Monitor implanted in her head to monitor any sudden changes in the fluid in her brain. This additional implant is causing further distress, leading her mother to plead with doctors for its removal.
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Farrah's journey is marked by good days and bad ones, with symptoms ranging from headaches to sore eyes and legs. Yet, she remains a loving big sister to her three younger siblings. Casey hopes their story can shed light on their struggle and increase understanding of Farrah's condition. "I hope our story can help people understand this condition."
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]