Little boy whose head has swollen to TWICE its normal size is desperate for surgery
Nong Chogun needs surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain
A BABY boy whose head swelled to twice its natural size was abandoned by his parents.
Now, ten years on, his grandmother is desperately hoping for a life-saving operation to relieve the pressure building in his skull.
Nong Chogun, 10, suffers from hydrocephalus, which causes a build-up of fluid on the brain.
But Chogun’s grandparents, who live in Vichienburi, a part of Petchburi province of Thailand, are very poor and cannot afford his surgery.
Their only income is from selling flower garlands, used in religious ceremonies, for 20p each.
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WHAT IS HYDOCEPHALUS?
Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid on the brain. The excess fluid puts pressure on the brain, which can damage it.
The damage to the brain can cause a wide range of symptoms, including headache, being sick, blurred vision and difficulty walking.
The brain constantly produces new cerebrospinal fluid (about a pint a day), while old fluid is released from the brain and absorbed into the blood vessels.
However, if this process is interrupted, the level of fluid can quickly build-up, placing pressure on the brain.
Hydrocephalus most commonly affects infants and older people and can be present at birth, develop after birth or develop in older people.
Babies born with the condition need immediate surgery to avoid being left permanently disabled.
It can be successfully treated by placing a drainage tube in the head to remove the fluid.
Chogun has had two operations to relieve the pressure before but they have not been successful and doctors say they cannot guarantee future treatment will help.
His grandmother said: “My daughter could not look after her baby and we could not let a young child be left with strangers.
“We do not have much money but we will do everything we can to support our grandson.”
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