A hydrocephalus awareness charity is calling on all UK healthcare providers to help raise awareness of “lifesaving” baby head measurement.
Harry’s Hydrocephalus Awareness Trust (Harry’s HAT) is an organisation that was set up to raise awareness of paediatric hydrocephalus – an incurable, and sadly life-threatening condition that affects one in every 770 babies.
Hydrocephalus is a build-up of excess fluid in the brain, which can put pressure on it to such an extent that it causes damage, and – if left untreated – can be fatal.
Harry’s HAT was set up in 2018 by founder and CEO, Caroline Coates, whose son Harry was first diagnosed with an arachnoid cyst when she was 36-weeks pregnant, that was later confirmed after he was born to have caused hydrocephalus.
Harry’s family were then told he would need a permanent shunt to drain the fluid from his brain at just eight weeks old if he was to survive.
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By the time Harry had reached his first birthday, the youngster had already endured four brain surgeries, and had spent lots of time in hospital, with frequent blue light trips into A&E – while his family found themselves isolated by their lack of knowledge on the condition, and often struggled to access the support and information they needed.
Harry’s HAT is the only UK charity to focus solely on hydrocephalus and its impact, and the organisation works to make life better for children with hydrocephalus, as well as for those who love and care for them, all year round.
The organisation’s latest campaign, however, may be one of its most crucial yet.
The GET-A-HEAD Campaign is working to spread awareness and highlight the importance of the need for trained health care professionals to measure and record a baby’s head circumference in the first year of life, as this is one of the ways hydrocephalus can be diagnosed.
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Hoping to reach expectant and new parents across the UK, the campaign’s mission is to show why these measurements can be a crucial tool for spotting life-threatening conditions such as hydrocephalus, so that little ones showing signs of the condition will no longer be able to slip through the net.
The campaign was set up after a recent survey by pregnancy and parenting advice forum, Bounty, discovered that only 20% of new parents were aware that measuring a baby’s head can help identify hydrocephalus, and almost half (45%) didn’t know that their baby’s head should even be measured at birth.
Harry’s HAT says “this needs to change”, as research suggests that early diagnosis can help improve the outcome for a baby born with hydrocephalus.
“While there is no cure for the condition, there is treatment,” the charity urges.
The GET-A-HEAD Campaign is working to spread awareness of lifesaving baby head measurement / Credit: Harry’s HAT
Speaking on why the campaign means so much to her, and why it’s so crucial, Caroline Coates – founder and CEO of Harry’s HAT – said: “Harry is my fourth child and I have spent most of my working life working for social care charities, yet even I didn’t know why they measured a baby’s head. I just thought it was something health professionals did and I never considered that it could reveal a life-threatening condition.”
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“Far too many babies are still slipping through the net, and all too often we hear from parents who tell us that chances to spot their child’s hydrocephalus were missed.”
You can support the GET-A-HEAD Campaign and find out more about the work Harry’s HAT does on the charity’s website here.
Featured Image – Harry’s HAT
News
Zayn Malik shares moving tribute to One Direction bandmate Liam Payne
Daisy Jackson
Zayn Malik of One Direction fame has now shared a touching tribute to his bandmate Liam Payne following the star’s death in Argentina.
Zayn has released a statement addressed directly to Liam, addressing the impact he had on his life.
In the touching statement, Zayn thanked Liam for helping him through ‘some of the most difficult times in my life’.
He added – echoing an earlier statement from Louis Tomlinson – that Liam was the ‘most qualified in every sense’ member of hit boyband One Direction.
Zayn also acknowledged that he sometimes ‘butted heads’ with the late singer, he always respected him.
Zayn Malik wrote: “Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.
“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.
“When I was missing home as a 17 yr old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.
“Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated, and gave no fucks about telling people when they were wrong.
“Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.
“When it came to the music Liam, you were the most qualified in every sense. I knew nothing in comparison, I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional.
“I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.
“I lost a brother when you left us and can’t explain to you what I’d give to just give you a hug one last time and say goodbye to you properly and tell you that I loved and respected you dearly.
“I will cherish all the memories I have with you in my heart forever, there is no words that justify or explain how I feel right now other than beyond devastated. I hope that wherever you are right now you are good and are at peace and you know how loved you are.
One Direction star Louis Tomlinson shares heartbreaking tribute to bandmate and ‘brother’ Liam Payne
Daisy Jackson
Louis Tomlinson has become the first member of One Direction to post his own tribute to Liam Payne following the star’s sudden death yesterday.
The beloved boyband released a joint statement signed by all four surviving members – Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan and Louis – earlier this evening.
But now Louis Tomlinson has issued his own, utterly heartbreaking tribute.
In it, he described Liam as a ‘brother’ and explained that he felt he had been the ‘most vital part’ of One Direction.
Louis wrote that he would have ‘loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be’.
In a particularly moving statement, he added that he would step in to be the ‘uncle’ needed by Liam’s seven-year-old son, Bear.
Liam Payne was found dead in Argentina yesterday after reportedly falling from a third floor window of a hotel.
In tribute to Liam, former bandmate and friend Louis Tomlinson shared: “I am beyond devastated to be writing this but yesterday I lost a brother.
“Liam was somebody I looked up to everyday, such a positive, funny, and kind soul.I first met Liam when he was 16 and I was 18, I was instantly amazed by his voice but more importantly as time went on I got a chance to see the kind brother I’d longed all my life for.
“Liam was an incredible song writer with a great sense of melody, we often spoke of getting back in the studio together to try and recreate the writing chemistry we had built up in the band.
“And for the record, Liam was in my opinion the most vital part of One Direction. His experience from a young age, his perfect pitch, his stage presence, his gift for writing. The list goes on. Thank you for shaping us Liam.
“A message to you Liam if you’re listening, I feel beyond lucky to have had you in my life but I’m really struggling with the idea of saying goodbye. I’m so grateful that we got even closer since the band, speaking on the phone for hours, reminiscing about all the thousands of amazing memories we had together is a luxury I thought I’d have with you for life.
“I would have loved to share the stage with you again but it wasn’t to be.
“I want you to know that if Bear ever needs me I will be the Uncle he needs in his life and tell him stories of how amazing his dad was.
“I wish I got chance to say goodbye and tell you one more time how much I loved you.
“Payno, my boy, one of my best friends, my brother, I love you mate. Sleep well X”