Lillian Puls’ complex medical journey would be considered a long road for a kid of any age – let alone someone who is not even 2 years old.
As an infant, Diana was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that took her ability to hear in one ear. During her care journey, she had a cochlear implant placed to restore her hearing and became the youngest patient in Minnesota – and the second-youngest patient in the country – to ever have this procedure.
Just one day after Carter entered the world, his care team performed what would be the first of 13 surgeries during the first 13 months of his young life. One operation was the first of its kind in the state of Minnesota.
September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month. Noa’s story is inspirational and shares how Children's Minnesota has helped her family navigate their care journey.
Baby Stella made Minnesota medical history after undergoing a new procedure for spina bifida.
Vanessa was born with hydrocephalus, and because of that, she spent a lot of her life receiving care at Children’s Minnesota. At age 12, Vanessa sadly passed away. In her honor, hundreds showed up to shop for donations for Children's Minnesota.
Pediatric hydrocephalus is a condition caused by an excessive buildup of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. CSF is a clear fluid that surrounds and cushions the brain and spinal cord, protecting them from injury. When the fluid builds up in the brain, it can cause increased pressure within the head. Hydrocephalus can occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it is caused by an overproduction of CSF and other times, it may be due to the body’s inability to drain or reabsorb the fluid. It can be present at birth (congenital) or occur after birth (acquired). Pediatric hydrocephalus can be damaging if left untreated, but with early diagnosis and treatment, children with hydrocephalus can often lead normal, healthy lives. According to the Hydrocephalus Association, one to two of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. will have hydrocephalus and more than one million people in the U.S. are currently living with hydrocephalus.
January 1, 1970, 12 a.m. – 12 a.m., Minneapolis
Please join us for the 14th National Conference on Hydrocephalus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The goal of the conference is to provide tools and connections to address the medical, educational and social challenges of living with hydrocephalus and to provide the opportunity for an enjoyable get together. Hydrocephalus is a chronic condition for which there is no cure. Our patient-centered conferences empower all of us to understand, seek out and put into place, care programs and services that will meet our needs now and well into the future.