A WREXHAM youngster living with a potentially fatal brain condition will spend Christmas at home this year.
Each time Becky Duffy catches a cold or gets a virus her parents, Tracy and Craig, have every reason to worry.
Because, unlike normal nine-year-olds, the youngster from Rhosddu suffers from a potentially fatal condition called hydrocephalus which sees an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the cavities of her brain.
Becky, a pupil at Rhosddu Primary School, is fitted with a “shunt,” a valve connected to her brain which expels excess liquid, via internal tubing, into her stomach.
However, if she ever suffers from headaches, starts vomiting or feels drowsy, it could mean the shunt has blocked.
The youngster’s family then have just four hours to get her to hospital – which could mean the difference between life and death.
Mum Tracy, 41, said: “If it blocks it could be fatal, or cause brain damage.
“We’ve been told we have four hours to get her into hospital so they can get the pressure off.
“There are a list of symptoms which we have to look out for, so it means we always have to watch her.
“But Becky has been brilliant. Everyone in the hospital cannot believe how cheerful she is.”
The condition is often linked to spina bifida, but Becky was a largely healthy child before she contracted meningitis late last year.
This led to the onset of the congenital condition, to which there is no known cure.
“We don’t know what causes it,” said Tracy.
“We’ve been told it could be because she was born prematurely, but we will never know. When she caught meningitis it became much worse.
“If she had not gone into hospital when she did, she wouldn’t be here now – she was very, very poorly.”
Becky, of Rhosddu, was diagnosed with meningitis, mastoiditis, and hydrocephalus and in the early hours of December 21 underwent an emergency operation to be fitted with an external shunt to release pressure on her brain.
Over the next week she remained in the hospital’s high dependency unit (HDU), had further operations and was given a two week course of intravenous antibiotics.
Eventually her condition improved and she was allowed home. Now fitted with an internal “shunt” she was allowed to return to school.
“Rhosddu Primary School have been absolutely brilliant,” said Tracy.
Now, after the drama of last year, the family, which also includes Becky’s six-year-old brother Owen, are looking forward to a Christmas at home.
Tracy said: “Owen has coped with it fantastically as well. Last year he said ‘I don’t care if I don’t get any Christmas presents, just as long as Becky is OK.’
”But all are still keenly aware that, should Becky begin to suffer with any of a variety of innocuous symptoms, she may be in serious danger unless she gets medical treatment from a specialist neurological unit within hours.
Tracy, who works part-time for Wrexham Council, said: “If there are certain signs that she shows, such as headaches and sickness it could be down to a blockage.”
Craig, who works at Hoya Lens,on Wrexham Industrial Estate, added: “You are always on alert because of what’s going on. A couple of weeks ago she was sick, and automatically you start to worry.”
It means whenever the family go on holiday, they make sure to be never too far away from a hospital capable of treating Becky.
Tracy said: “We went to Blackpool earlier in the year, and we chose it because we would only be 45 minutes from Alder Hey.”
Becky, thanks to her shunt, is able to live a relatively normal life, and has already said thanked the hospital that treated her by holding a charity bag pack with friend Cara Goodwin.
The effort, at Sainsbury’s, raised £1,200 for Alder Hey and Ronald McDonald House.