Hi, my name is Georgina Redfearne and I am supporting Neurocare because since 2012 they have done nothing but support me during my five brain operations, providing me with life saving equipment and simply because without them... I wouldn't be here to tell this story.

On Sunday 24th May 2015 from 2pm I am holding an event at The Clumber Inn Pub, Ordsall in aid of Neurocare charity as a run-up event leading to the event held on Sunday 30th August 2015. On the 24th May we will be "Waxing a Prat", we have three nominees Tom Paterson, Kirk Lambie and Gaz Davies with two special guests. We will also have three shirtless waitors to meet all your hydration needs. Come along and have some fun, BBQ from 2pm, Bouncy Caste, Sweet Stall and Raffle. On August 30th 2015 from 2 pm, the event will be held at The Clumber Inn Pub, in Ordsall, a massive thank you to everyone that voted for me to win the competition and an even bigger thank you to Tom Paterson for working alongside me to organize the event and hold it at their pub. Head over to the Clumber Inn Charity Day Facebook page to check out all the activities taking place on the day!

In 2012 I encountered a traumatic experience that no matter what no 17 year old should have to go through, an experience where I was faced with death. After 2 years of gradual headache increase, losing control over my bladder, passing/blacking out and becoming a recluse in my own home because I was embarrassed and in too much pain to carry out daily activities. 

The most scariest time of my life began when a trip to the opticians (who by the way I cannot thank enough) ended with a trip to my local hospital, where I was told I had a brain tumor, without the use of tests this cannot be diagnosed. This is something nobody wants to hear, no matter how young or old. After the painful drive home with all sorts running through my head because apparently this situation wasn't seen as an 'emergency' they couldn't 'squeeze' me in for an MRI scan, a scan that provides medical staff with images of inside the brain.  

Within 24 hours, I had blood tests, MRI scans and CT scans all of which showed I had a rare brain disease called Hydrocephalus, a condition where there is a build up of fluid named Cerebrospinal Fluid, also known as CSF. On the 19th March 2012 at 18.00 hours, 2 days before my 18th birthday I received a call from my now consultant from Royal Hallamshire Hospital stating a bed was waiting for me and that I needed to be there ASAP. Once there, it all seems a blur, the words..."if you don't sign these papers, you will die" are the last things I remember before the operation prep began. 

My consultant, one of the very few neurosurgeons in the UK, one of the nicest men I have ever met, a man that makes me smile everytime I think of him, a man that didnt just save my life once, but twice, not only did he care for me but he cared for my family, he is so compassionate about what he does it honestly makes me realise how passionate, caring and influential one man can be, he explained to me that the condition I had could have been from an infection in my brain or from a bang on my head, this had traumatized my brain causing the usual hole where the fluid drains into the spine to completely block off and for those two years I had been getting symptoms were the fluid that was being produced was not draining, resulting in swelling in my head and shrinking of my brain to compensate the fluid.  

My first operation involved the shaving of a section of my head, drilling through my skull and into my brain and proceeding with a procedure called Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy, also known as ETV, this involved producing a brand new hole in my third ventricle to allow the fluid to drain by itself, relieving the pressure inside my brain, in effect reducing the symptoms I experienced. My second, third and fourth operation involved Inter cranial Pressure Monitoring, also known as ICP monitoring, this involves a wire inserted inside your brain (around the third ventricle) to monitor the pressure inside my brain. After my third set of ICP monitoring showing my pressure to be almost double of what it should be (0-20 mm Hg), this meant that I needed another procedure which involved the insertion of a shunt, a plastic tube which runs from your brain into either your abdomen or heart, mine runs into my abdomen, the shunt usually last for around 10 years but can block due to an infection at any time.

In June 2015 I will be having an operation that noone in the North East has EVER had before, the operation has been done in Manchester but never in Sheffield. Due to the equipment being so limited I am having to wait for one to become available, which will hopefully be in June. Recently I was rushed to hospital as I had an emergency CT scan at one of my clinic appointments, this was due to the description of my symptoms. The CT scan showed that my ventricles were enlarged, a simular size compared to my CT scan in August before my shunt was fitted. The On call reg phoned me and explained my shunt was malfunctioning and that I needed to fast ready for surgery later that day. After fasting, I was told my operation wouldnt be that day. Eventually 6 days pass and my amazing consultant came to see me and explained that I could have this surgery to monitor the pressure in my brain (ICP Monitoring) although it means I'm restricted to the bed as I would be linked to the computer for 24/48 hours, only monitoring my fluid laid down and sat up. He went on to explain that some new equipment has become available, the operation hasnt been used in Sheffield before but he can get hold of the equipment and is willing to do the operation where I would need the insertion of a magnet inside my brain, which will stay there, then on the outside of my head I would have to wear a devise that monitors the pressure more presiously, enabling me to live my normal life whilst monitoring my pressure. I will roughly wear this devise for around 3 months or until a sufficient result is found. I am so grateful that I am able to have this operation and keep my quality of life and ofcourse, I am a little excited to be the first person in Sheffield to ever have this operation.

All of the above operations wouldn't have been possible without Neurocare, a charity which supply Sheffield Teaching Hospitals with life saving equipment and fund research into studies to try and help those with neurological illnesses such as, brain tumors, head injuries, diseases of the nervous system, multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and strokes.  At the money Neurocare are raising funds to provide functional neurosurgery fellowships worth £2,546, overnight packs for relatives and friends, relatives room worth £5,628, research into functional symptoms which costs £50,000, microscope and imaging project which costs £38,000, Dyson fans for neuro-critical patients which cost £6,000 (I cannot thank neurocare enough for the fan I had whilst in hospital, being unable to control body temperature can only be described as awful and I'm so thankful for these fans), bone scalpel surgical tool which costs £17,600, research into using skin cells in the diagnosis of motor neuron disease which costs £5,600 and the funding of £6,800 to make Yorkshire brain school possible. 

All of the above will eventually save someones life,  just like previously funded equipment saved mine. Please spare anything you possible can to donate to this amazing cause. 

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read this and donate, honestly means the worlds to me. 

Lots of love, Georgina xxxxxxxxx